Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Michael Ring

Question:

92 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food 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. [4175/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The details sought by the Deputy are as follows:

Advertising 2002

	€
Advertising (including display/general advertising and Statutory Notices)	690,960
Promotional videos for disease eradication and beef assurance schemes	3,086
Total	694,046

A detailed breakdown by category of expenditure is not readily available but the vast bulk of expenditure is in respect of press display advertising, mainly in the specialised farming press. In 2002 advertising in the provincial press represented approximately 25% of total advertising expenditure.

My Department has not employed external public relations staff since 1997. The equivalent of five staff work full-time on media communication duties in my Department. They are paid normal civil service salaries commensurate with their grades estimated at approximately €131,000 in 2002.