Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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318. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total cost of public relations-communications to her Department in 2013; the spend to date in 2014; the total estimate for 2014; the corresponding figures for each agency funded from his Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31527/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department did not incur any expenditure on external public relations in 2013 or to date in 2014. It is not possible to estimate future public relations expenditure as the need for PR services can arise at any time in the context of initiatives and policy decisions relating to education and skills programmes. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of agencies is not held centrally by my Department. The awarding of contracts, the expenditure incurred, and the procurement arrangements by agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the agencies themselves. All bodies under the aegis of my Department are aware of the need to achieve value for money while conducting procurement. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies outlines the responsibilities of state bodies in this regard and my Department regularly updates the aegis bodies on developments in relation to public procurement policy and practices. For the Deputy's information details of agencies under the remit of my Department can be downloaded from the Departments website, this information is updated when any relevant changes occur. .