The Department aims to ensure that all citizens are made aware of their rights and entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. The provision of information in a clear and accessible manner is an essential element in the achievement of this objective. The Department uses a mix of advertising media including national and provincial newspapers, radio and television, information leaflets, fact sheets, posters and direct mailshots to ensure that people are aware of their social welfare entitlements and are notified about improvements and changes affecting their payments and services. The amount spent on advertising in any one year is determined by the number of specific advertising campaigns undertaken and the media used.
In 2008 to-date advertisements have been placed in the newspapers inviting submissions and input from the public in relation to the Green Paper on Pensions, on the development of a National Carers' Strategy and on the development of the Department's Customer Action Plan and Customer Charter. The full costs associated with these advertisements are outlined in the following table. Two further campaigns are planned for later in the year in relation to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and Budget 2009. The estimated cost of each campaign is also given in the table.
Appendix: Advertising 2008
Nature of Advertising
|
Media
|
Cost
|
Timeframe
|
|
|
€
|
|
Customer Action Plan
|
Newspapers (Sunday/National)
|
71,000
|
February 2008
|
National Carers Strategy
|
Newspapers (National/Provincial)
|
128,000
|
March 2008
|
Green Paper on Pensions — Have Your Say
|
Newspapers (National/Provincial)
|
257,000
|
February and April 2008
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance
|
Radio Newspapers (Sunday/National)
|
200,000
|
Planned for August 2008
|
Budget 2009
|
Newspapers (National/Provincial)
|
70,000
|
Planned December 2008
|