Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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99. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount paid by the National Treasury Management Agency and its group entities including the National Asset Management Agency for public relations services in the years 2012 to 2014; the amount paid out to individual firms for these services in each of the three years; the efforts that have been made by the National Treasury Management Agency and its group entities to reduce its spend on these services over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12649/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The NTMA have advised me that they do not maintain an internal press office. Instead, its internal communications resources are supported by an external service provider (appointed following a public procurement process) currently Gordon MRM - in order to offer a full press office and communications service (including out-of-hours contacts for the media). This press office and communications service provides support across all the NTMA's business areas: Debt Management, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, National Development Finance Agency, State Claims Agency and NewERA. It also provides support to NAMA and the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland.

These arrangements were initially put in place during 2010 in light of a significant increase in the volume of domestic and international media queries being received by the NTMA and associated bodies. In September 2012 the NTMA retendered for the provision of these services. Following the tender evaluation process the NTMA awarded a new contract to Gordon MRM in December 2012.

The initial contract, in place to end 2012 was based on an hourly rate for services provided. During the term of this contract a 20% reduction in the hourly rate was agreed with effect from June 2011 until the end of the contract. The new contract, which commenced in January 2013, is based on a fixed fee.

Costs over the period 2012 to 2014 (ex VAT) are as follows: 2012 - €223,973 (of which €142,653 was charged to NAMA); 2013 - €159,826 (of which €78,926 was charged to NAMA); 2014 - €165,059 (of which €79,270 was charged to NAMA)

In the light of the sovereign debt crisis the NTMA also engaged Powerscourt a London based communications consultancy - for international communications initiatives in the funding and debt management area. Total costs (ex VAT) incurred for the provision of the services provided by Powerscourt were as follows: 2012 - €10,257; 2013 - €12,103.