Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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546. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49155/14]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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560. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the total external public relation costs incurred by his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and estimated in 2014. [49380/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 560 together.

There have been no Public Relations firms engaged by my Department for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 or in 2014.

In relation to my Department’s policy for the engagement of external expertise, this is generally only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department.