Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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134. To ask the Minister for Finance to outline the amount paid by the National Treasury Management Agency and the National Asset Management Agency for public relations in 2016; the amount paid to each firm; the rates that apply; when the main public relations contracts for the two agencies are up for renewal; his views on whether the contract provides value-for-money for the two agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8175/17]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that its communications team is supported by an external service provider, Gordon MRM. This service, which includes out-of-hours contacts for the media, provides support across all of the NTMA's business areas:

- Funding and Debt Management;

- Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF);

- National Development Finance Agency (NDFA);

- State Claims Agency (SCA); and

- NewERA.

It also provides support to the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).

In September 2012 the NTMA, launched a public procurement process and tendered for the provision of these services. Following the tender evaluation process the NTMA awarded a contract to Gordon MRM. The current contract, which commenced in January 2013, is based on a fixed fee. Rates do not apply. The contract was for a three year period with the option to extend by two years. The contract was extended by two years and is up for renewal in January 2018.

NAMA draws on the NTMA's shared services in a number of areas including its outsourced press function.  NAMA reimburses the NTMA in respect of the costs of these services attributable to NAMA.

The overall amount paid for PR services by the NTMA and all of its associated business areas in 2016 (ex VAT) was €151,995 (of which €79,995 was charged to NAMA).