Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of expenditure by his Department or any organisations under the aegis of his Department for each of the years from 2005 to 2016, in tabular form, on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, interview training and preparation, including details of the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related, and the company or individual to whom such payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6536/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The information sought by the Deputy in relation to expenditure by my Department is not readily available. I will arrange to have the material compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of agencies is not held centrally by the  Department. The awarding of contracts, the expenditure incurred, and the procurement arrangements by agencies under the aegis of the Department is an operational matter for each agency. If the Deputy has an interest in a particular agency then officials in my Department will request the agency concerned to provide the relevant information insofar as it is possible.

All bodies under the aegis of my Department are aware of the need to achieve value for money while conducting procurement. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies outlines the responsibilities of state bodies in this regard and my Department regularly updates the aegis bodies on developments in relation to public procurement policy and practices.

For the Deputy's information details of agencies under the remit of my Department can be downloaded from the Department's website.