Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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184. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the costs incurred by his Department and bodies under its aegis from contracts awarded to communications and PR firms in 2024; the name of the contractor and a description of the work undertaken in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32636/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following a Request for Tender in May 2024 for the engagement of external communications’ consultants to assist the Department of Defence in the completion of a comprehensive Communications’ Strategy, covering both internal and external communications, my Department awarded a contract to 360 FINN Partners. The value of the contract was €20,664.

While the Defence Forces did not award any communications or PR-related contracts in 2024, they do, on the basis of contracts awarded previously, retain the services of a small number of consultants to provide training and advise and undertake surveys in the areas of public perception and media analysis. The Defence Forces advise me that they spent €40, 410 with Fleishman Hilliard in 2024 for the provision of training, research, surveys and counsel.

Of the bodies under the aegis of my Department, only the External Oversight Body awarded a communications or PR-related contracts in 2024. The contract, awarded to Q4 Public Relations, related to the provision of communications advice and the value of the service provided in 2024 was €1,599.