Shane Cassells (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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682. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development 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. [54250/17]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses. My Department has not used these services since its establishment. There is no specific internal departmental policy with regard to employing such external public relations firms. All proposed procurement of services is subject to an assessment of business needs and the application of internal financial procedures on public procurement rules in compliance with relevant EU, national legislation and best practice.