Coalition paid over €40,000 for voter research ahead of Oireachtas referendum

The Government spent more than €40,000 on researching voter behaviour in relation to the Oireachtas inquiry referendum, according to new figures.

Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin yesterday released for the first time details of all departmental purchases over €20,000 for the last quarter of 2011 as part of a new “transparency” policy.

The research on voter behaviour was carried out by Red C for a payment of €41,043. The referendum was defeated in last October’s vote.

Twelve of the 14 purchase orders totalling almost half a million euro are for computer and telephone equipment and support services.

Computer company Dell was paid €86,000 by the department including €50,000 for PCs and laptops.