Vol. 543 No. 2
449 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Health and Children the public relations or advertising campaigns which have been funded, or part funded by his Department since June 1997, which involve the personal appearance of the Minister or Ministers of State on television, radio or in newspapers; the cost of any such campaigns; if any such campaigns are planned for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26807/01]
I refer the Deputy to my reply on 31 May 2001 to a similar Parliamentary Question No. 107 tabled by Deputy Owen. The position outlined in that reply still obtains; it is equally applicable to public relations campaigns.
I, and the Ministers of State at my Department, do not have any recollection of personal appearances of the type referred to in the Deputy's question.
I have asked the communication manager at my Department to contact the Deputy and to follow up with him any particular concerns he may have on the matter.
450 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will outline, in respect of the current radio advertising campaign featuring the Minister promoting awareness of asthma, the production costs involved in the advertisement; the number of occasions on which the advertisement has been transmitted to date in respect of each radio station; the number of further slots booked in respect of each radio station; when it is expected that the advertising will be completed; the average unit cost per transmission; the estimated cost of the advertising campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26908/01]
On the invitation of the Asthma Society I undertook this campaign as asthma affects an estimated 275,000 people in Ireland and poor compliance with prescribed treatment is a major cause of the high levels of badly controlled asthma in Ireland today. The production costs involved were nil as RTE Nationwide, Cork provided the recording facilities free of charge. The 20 second advertisement was aired on RTE Radio 1, once per day from Monday, October 22 to Friday, 26 October and again from Monday, 29 October to Friday, 2 November 2001. Further transmissions will be arranged by the Asthma Society. The Asthma Society pays for these transmissions at RTE's charity rate of an estimated £66 plus VAT, year 2000 prices, for a 20 second spot.
