Leo Varadkar’s rebranding of departments could cost €15,000

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s recent rebranding of Government departments could cost about €15,000.

The reshuffle of Cabinet positions in June saw three departments acquire different titles, requiring revamped door plaques, new ministerial seals and fresh stationery.

Changing the name of Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys’ department will cost €5,000, according to a departmental spokeswoman.

Ms Humphreys was named as Minister for Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht in May 2016, following the last general election.

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“On the basis of costs incurred in respect of the 2016 change of name it is expected costs will be in the order of €5,000 including VAT with costs of approximately €1,700 for the issue of a new ministerial seal and approximately €3,000 for new signage at departmental offices,” the spokeswoman said.

She added that existing stocks of branded stationery would be used up as the department aimed to be as cost effective as possible.

Any changes to email addresses or the department’s website would be carried out by internal IT staff at no extra cost. The department’s logo and letter head will be developed internally.

Ms Humphreys was originally appointed Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the 2014 reshuffle carried out by then taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The Department of Social Protection, where Regina Doherty is Minister, is due to be renamed the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in September.

“In addition to absorbing new staff into the department, it will involve changing the department’s branding and potentially departmental office signage,” a spokeswoman said.

She said the department’s staff would continue to use the current stationery stock, including information leaflets and application forms, to minimise the cost implications of the change.

Existing stocks

Newly branded items would only be used when existing stocks were depleted.

There was no intention to change departmental email addresses.

“The department is not in a position to provide an estimate on the cost of a rebrand at present,” she added.

Meanwhile, Minister Frances Fitzgerald took over at Minister of State Mary Mitchell-O’Connor’s old Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the name of which has been changed slightly to the Department of Enterprise and Innovation.

A departmental spokeswoman said projected costs were not yet available.

“The change of name was only recently settled and we are now scoping the costs of issues such as a new name plate for the buildings, any change of logo, headed paper et cetera so we do not have figures available nor have we actually commissioned or contracted for such items.”

The name of the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Natural Resources, where Denis Naughten is Minister, will change slightly to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

There may be other costs incurred by the creation of a new Department of Community and Rural Affairs, where Michael Ring is Minister.