Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Michael Ring

Question:

145 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount which was spent in his Department for 2002 for media purposes and advertising; the areas in which the money was spent, that is, national papers, provincial papers, RTE radio, local radios and so on; the amount of money which was spent on videos for promotional, educational or advertising purposes; the public relations staff which are employed in his Department; and the cost for 2002. [4181/03]

Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (Mr. D. Ahern)

I am required to insert a large number of statutory notices in all areas of my responsibility. For example, every month I am required to insert a public notice in the print media, nationally and locally, to publicise the quota limits in certain fisheries. Practically all of this expenditure is non-discretionary.

The expenditure on media matters by my Department during 2002 was €484,582. While this expenditure was incurred entirely on advertising in the print media, it is not recorded in a manner that distinguishes between expenditure on national papers and expenditure on provincial papers. There was no expenditure on radio or videos. The Department's media and information unit, which handles all media, media marketing, public relations activities and information matters, is staffed by a media adviser, a press officer and three clerical staff. The annual staffing cost of this unit is €182,623.