Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 31 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 4

Written Answers. - Departmental Advertising.

Nora Owen

Question:

138 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of advertisements in written media, radio or television since July 1997 that have contained a reference to the Minister by name or title; the number she has actually appeared or spoken in; if any instructions have been issued to companies or advertising agencies that when advertising a particular scheme or project sponsored by their Department, the Minister or the Government is to be included; the costs of all such advertisements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16424/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera)

The total expenditure on advertising placed by my Department with Brindley Advertising for the years 1998-2001 is £1,378,225 broken down as: 1998, £285,506; 1999, £409,600; 2000, £499,140; 2001, £183,979 (to date).

In the timeframe available it would not be possible to provide the Deputy with details of all advertisements placed in the national and local media over the last three years in relation to invitations to tender, recruitment of temporary guides, opening arrangements for heritage sites and other routine matters. However, if the Deputy has specific queries in relation to a particular advertisement or series of advertisements I would be happy to respond to such a query.

While it is normal practice for routine advertisements, as described above, to refer to the name of the Department rather than to myself as Minister, references to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands were included in advertisements relating to the matters listed as follows:

Date	Nature and Subject of Advertisement	Cost (£)
September 1998	National Heritage Plan – Newspapers	2,768
October 1998	Film Industry Strategic Review Group – Newspapers	3,915
May 1999	Wicklow Mountains National Park Council – Newspaper	968
November 1999	Killarney National Park Liaison Council – Local Media	3,609
November 1999	Review of the National Monuments Legislation – Newspaper	726
December 1999	Closure of Glen of the Downs to Public – Newspapers	1,216
August 2000	Review of Arts Legislation – Newspapers	7,519
September 2000	Review of Arts Legislation – Newspapers	3,997
May 2001	Invitation to Tender for Digital Terrestrial Television Multiplex Licence – Newspapers	56,204

I have not appeared or spoken in any advertisements. No instructions have been issued to companies or advertising agencies of the nature referred to by the Deputy.

Under EU regulations, agencies involved in the implementation of EU co-funded measures under the NDP are required to put in place appropriate arrangements to promote the measure and the fact that it is receiving support from EU Structural Funds. As part of this process, and in order to promote and raise awareness of the measures under the national development plan among potential beneficiaries and the public at large, the Government approved a communications strategy for the NDP which includes the use of an NDP logo and of the EU logo where appropriate. In this regard, the detailed Identity Guidelines for the National Development Plan Logo approved by the Government, require that the phrase "Funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2000-2006" must be included prominently in all relevant publicity materials, advertisements, information leaflets and application forms. Reference to the EU Structural Funds must also be included where a measure is co-financed by the EU. My Department and the agencies under its aegis are implementing these guidelines in respect of NDP related measures.