Ross attacks level of PR spend by state bodies

Independent TD Shane Ross has described the amount of money spent by state and semi-state bodies on public relations as “totally and utterly excessive” after it was revealed that Irish Water — which has 11 in-house communications staff — availed of the services of five private PR firms.

Mr Ross said Irish Water has been engaged in “crisis management” and has “indulged itself’ to alleviate the problems facing the firm.

“I think Irish Water certainly spent an enormous amount of money — won’t reveal how much money they spent — on people to defend Irish Water’s particular problem at the time. It also obviously has a very extensive internal public relations group of people who are overlapping as well.

“They are spending money very prolifically on externals which I don’t think they should have or should do or should need,” he told RTÉ’s Today with Sean O’Rourke programme.

Reporter Brian O’Connell revealed Irish Water parent company Ervia has 11 internal staff dedicated to the utility, and it also avails of the services of Edleman Ireland, Murray Consultants and Q4 PR for corporate communications. The firm also uses PSG Communications and The Reputations Agency for consumer public relations.

Mr Ross, meanwhile, was also critical of the Teaching Council which has a monthly contract of €4,750 with MKC Communications on top of its own two internal staff.

“A lot of these agencies are suffering from a siege mentality and when they are feeling on the defensive they go out and spend State money on defending their own honour and reputation when, in fact, they should be just getting on with the job.”

Mr O’Connell found:

• Science Foundation Ireland has Edelman on a monthly retainer of €12,000, excluding Vat, as well as two in-house staff covering press, communications and marketing.
• The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has five in-house staff and also uses MKC Communications for an annual fee of €100,000. It paid Media Vest €14,400 for its media buying services and creative agency Language €54,828 in 2014.
• RTÉ has 14 or so staff for communications across its various departments and does not use external PR companies.
• Safefood has two dedicated in-house communications staff answering to a communications director, and engages Wilson Hartnell on a per-use basis, paying €46,350 in 2013.