My Department is responsible for a wide range of matters. The information sought by the Deputy in respect of advertising placed by my Department is set out in the following table. This information does not include any expenditure by the courts, the Garda Síochána, prisons or Land Registry and Registry of Deeds direct from their respective Votes.
Expenditure outlined mainly relates to advertising costs in relation to such matters as recruitment and tender competitions, availability of funding under the national development plan, raising of awareness on particular issues, information on legislation, provision of accommodation for asylum seekers, invitations to make submissions to review groups or tribunals and information regarding holiday opening and closing times of the Department's offices.
Advertisements that my Department wishes to place in the local and national press must be routed through the central Government contract which has been placed for this purpose. My Department does not routinely maintain records in relation to individual publications, rather of the totals invoiced and paid on foot of the contract.