Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
170 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the breakdown of the amount spent by his Department on advertising for each of the years 2002, 2003 and 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33668/04]
View answerThe use of advertising is essential in ensuring that people are 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.
The total amount spent by my department 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. Expenditure on advertising during 2002 covered a wide range of departmental schemes and services and included a number of specific campaigns including promotion of the farm assist scheme among low income farmers, and promotion of awareness of the personal public service number and its use as the key to accessing public services.
The total amount spent by my department for advertising purposes in 2003 was €286,680; €258,572 in respect of the print media and €28,108 in respect of the broadcast media. There were no specific advertising campaigns carried out in 2003, Most of the advertising expenditure in 2003 was in connection with general advertising. The corresponding expenditure in 2004 was €473,224 in total; €190,015 in respect of the print media and €283,209 in respect of the broadcast media. Advertising during 2004 included two information campaigns. The first information campaign promoted the carer's benefit scheme and the second campaign alerted people coming up to pension age that they should apply for their pension at least three months before they reach pension age.
