THE GOVERNMENT has spent over €21,500 on new signs, logos and stationery after introducing new departments and changing the names on others, although the amount spent varies between departments – from hundreds to thousands of euros.
Minister Richard Bruton confirmed that his department spent over €10,000 in producing new signage and stationery after its name change to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The department did not fund a new logo.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform spent €4,538 on designs for a new logo and headed paper, according to Minister Brendan Howlin.
Last week, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said his department spent €264 on its new logo design. Varadkar also said that his department is spending €2,086 to put signs for the new department on each of its three buildings in Dublin.
Over €47,000 has been spent on setting up Minister Brendan Howlin’s offices since the department was established by the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government earlier this year to ensure “the effective management of taxpayers’ money”. A breakdown of expenses published by the Sunday Times and TheStory.ie at the weekend showed that Howlin’s department spent €47 on a bathroom sign that reads “Minister’s Toilet” and another €47 on a key for its door.
New names, new logos, new signs
Minister Simon Coveney’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has yet to decide issues surrounding a new logo and signage.
Minister Phil Hogan said the Department of Environment, Commuinity and Local Government had amended its own logo internally after being re-named by the new government. He added that labels showing the new name were being affixed to stationery at a cost of €1.92/1,000 sheets. The issue of new signs is under review.
The Minister for the Department of Arts, Jimmy Deenihan, said his department was still using the same logo used under its previous name (which was the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport). He said his department was amending its signage and “once this process has been completed, it will be possible to quantify costs arising”.
Minister Eamon Gilmore said that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was not getting a new logo, but had spent €5,066 on replacement signs.
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