Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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600. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department per annum since coming into office, in tabular form; the external public relations firms used; the internal departmental policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54089/17]

Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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605. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department in each year since March 2011; 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. [54239/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 605 together.

My Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and to address specific issues as they arise. The Department therefore necessarily incurs some expenditure on public relations from time to time.

In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keeping expenditure to the minimum necessary.

The information requested in the Question is outlined in the following table:

The information set out in the table does not include information in relation to the use of public relations services for the period prior to July 2016 for those areas formerly the responsibility of the then Department of Environment, Community and Local Government which transferred to my Department in July 2016.