Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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385. To ask the Minister for Health the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39641/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is the policy in my Department only to engage the services of external consultants where it is felt to be appropriate and cost-effective, taking account of Government decisions and policy including procurement protocols on the matter.

The Department does not collect data in a manner which would allow the Deputy’s question to be answered in full. Data are available up to June 2018, in January, €5,193 was paid to Mediavest in respect of a public consultation on Deprivation of Liberty.

I will revert to the Deputy again if further relevant expenditure has take place since June 2018.