John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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394. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide details of the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department for each of the years 2000 to 2010 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3243/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The information sought by the Deputy is set out in tabular form. In the timeframe available it is not possible to provide the Deputy with information for years prior to 2006. From time to time, consultants or companies with a public relations and communications background are commissioned to provide a range of professional services such as project management, logistics and event management, including Irish Aid activities and advice on matters which require communication to a national audience. To illustrate, DHR Communications were contracted from 2008 to 2010 to manage and execute a national Africa Day flagship event in Dublin. This included the administration of a small grants scheme for regional events which DHR organised on behalf of the Department in partnership with a number of local authorities. DHR also worked to raise public awareness of these Africa Day events, including through the use of social media and the Africa Day website. This work represented a minor element of the project and was conducted in close cooperation with my Department’s Press Office.

Following a competitive tendering process, DHR Communications were also contracted in 2010 to manage and administer the Simon Cumbers Media Fund (SCMF) grants scheme. This involved managing two funding rounds, including through national and regional information workshops; managing and administering the application process; organising the judging process and providing detailed feedback to all applicants; processing grant payments and keeping detailed administrative and financial records; maintaining and updating the SCMF website and managing the SCMF student competition.

Vote 28 – Hiring of Public Relations companies 2006-2010

Vote 27(formerly Vote 29) – Hiring of Public Relations companies 2006-2010