Murrays picked up €91,000 from FÁS
28 April 09

Murray Consultants was paid €91,000 by FÁS during the row over lavish spending at the State training agency. The PR firm received the payments during the five months to December last, a period during which it was in the eye of controversy over financial irregularities.

Documents quoted by the Sunday Business Post show the board of FÁS approved costs of €54,140 to Murrays last November. A further payment of €30,000 was also approved during the period. The paper says the agency is now seeking tenders for a "specialist public relations advice service" to cost an additional €50,000 over two years. The paper points out that this is despite instructions from finance minister Brian Lenihan that government departments and agencies should halve their spending on consultancies and public relations.