Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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402. To ask the Minister for Social Protection 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 her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31535/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There were no costs incurred by my Department in respect of public relations/communications in 2013 and to date in 2014. In line with Department of Social Protection policy, the press office deals with all media queries and public relations matters. It is the Department’s policy to use in-house resources as much as possible and to restrict the use of external firms to a minimum.

The total 2014 estimate for the Department for public relations/communications is €3,150.

The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal. There were no costs incurred by these agencies for public relations/communications in 2013 and to date in 2014. There is no estimate for these agencies for 2014.