Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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354. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total cost of public relations-communications to his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [31532/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The total public relation costs incurred by my Department and its Offices in 2013, 2014 and estimated in 2014 are as follows:-

* €76,480 was incurred to provide the Department with Press and Media Relations Services for the Irish Presidency of the EU. This was a once off exercise/expenditure due to Presidency events.

While it is not possible to definitively predict the amount which will be spent on public relations costs for the remainder of 2014, the figure provided above represents projects of which I have been notified at this point.

My Department uses external public relations providers having regard to its business needs. In engaging such providers, the Department is mindful of the need to secure value for money and, accordingly strives to keep costs to the minimum.

Expenditure on public relations by the Agencies of my Department is a day-to-day matter for the individual Agencies concerned for which I have no direct function. I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide me with the most recent information on public relations expenditure incurred by them and I will communicate this information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.