The use of advertising is essential in ensuring that all of our citizens are fully aware of their social welfare entitlements and are notified about improvements and changes affecting their payments and services. The amount of advertising expenditure in any one year is determined by the number of specific advertising campaigns which are undertaken.
My Department's expenditure on public relations consultancy in 2002 was €6,534. Expenditure on advertising in 2002 was €1,319,239, of which €981,960 was in respect of the print media and €337,279 in respect of the broadcast media. There was no expenditure on marketing in 2002.
Expenditure on advertising covered a wide range of departmental schemes and services and included three information campaigns relating to the promotion of the farm assist scheme among low income farmers; the promotion of awareness of the personal public service number and its use as the key to accessing integrated public services and e-government; and the budget 2003 information campaign which advised social welfare customers on when and how their budget increases would be paid.
I am satisfied that the expenditure on advertising in 2002 served to promote awareness and understanding of our schemes and services and provided excellent value for money. It is expected that expenditure on advertising in 2003 will be €520,000.