Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

458. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent by his Department on photography, by photographer and-or agency, public relations or communications advice external to the media officers of his Department, by agency; the use of public relations or communications advice by an agency fully funded by his Department by agency and month, in tabular form since 1 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6740/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department generally does not employ external public relations firms and did not employ any external public relations firms in the year 2016. Public relations advice is provided by my Department’s Press Office.  

In April of 2017, the services of "All Good Tales", a public relations company, were used to provide training for staff members for the National Animal Surveillance Programme. The cost of this training was €5,965.

The information requested by the Deputy with regard to photography is available on my Department's website at www.agriculture.gov.ie/aboutus/ministers/photographycosts. This information is regularly updated by my Department. Wherever possible, the Department avails of internal photography skills.

In relation to the State Bodies under the aegis of this Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. In accordance with the new procedures effective since September 2016, as notified by the Clerk of the Dáil, my Department has provided contact details for all of our agencies. Details of dedicated email addresses for State Bodies are available for Oireachtas members through the Clerk of Dáil Éireann.