Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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201. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of parliamentary questions his Department has processed in the past three years to date; the number of questions answered directly; the number of questions referred to bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department for direct reply; the number of staff who are assigned to his parliamentary questions section; and if non-departmental staff, advisers and-or public affairs and relations companies have composed parliamentary question replies or had an act or hand in forming parliamentary question replies in the timeframe specified. [52236/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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There were 4,809 PQs processed by my Department in the last three years. My office does not maintain a record as to whether a question was answered directly or whether it was referred to an agency for answer directly to a Deputy. Where a question is referred to an agency, this is stated in the reply, and the agency is expected to respond to the Deputy within 10 days as per Standing Orders. Where appropriate,  input is sought from the relevant body or agency in the preparation of replies.

Two persons in my Private Office are assigned to process questions.

Officials in my Department prepare a draft reply which is then submitted to my office for approval. 

Public relations companies are not involved in the preparation of replies to Parliamentary Questions.