Departmental Expenditure

Thursday, 23 March 2017

Questions (91)

Jack Chambers

Question:

91. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of any payments made by his Department, its agencies or any bodies under his aegis to any broadcasters here in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017. [14721/17]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The details sought by the Deputy are not readily available. Officials in my Department are collating the information and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 14721 of 23 March 2017 in which you asked for details of any payments made by my Department and its aegis bodies to any broadcasters in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016; the broadcaster to which the funds were provided; the reason for the payments; and if there are any reasons for payments to broadcasters in 2017.

In my reply, I had stated that the information sought was not available at the time but would be forwarded to you separately. I am now in a position to provide the relevant information.

The details of expenditure incurred for broadcasting costs in the relevant years requested in respect of my Department and its agencies are set out in the tables.

Department of Education and Skills
1. All-Island Schools Drama Competition
Payments incurred relate to RTÉ costs for the Ireland 2016 – All Island Primary schools drama competition run in collaboration with the Abbey Theatre and RTÉ. This competition encouraged Irish primary school children to write their own short play for the Abbey stage. It is not anticipated that any costs will be incurred in 2017 in relation to this competition.
Payee	2014	2015	2016
RTÉ Commercial Enterprise	€0.00	€0.00	€1,000.00

Agencies or Bodies under Aegis of the Department
1. Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI)
Expenditure incurred as part of the advertising campaign in relation to the opening and closing dates of the student grant on-line application system. SUSI have yet to conduct their advertising campaign for the 2017/2018 academic year but it is anticipated they will commence advertising the opening of the student grant on-line system in the forthcoming weeks which will incur broadcasting costs in 2017.
Payee	2014	2015	2016
98FM	€3,044.25	€6,455.04	€3,936.00
Independent Radio Sales Ltd	€15,999.84	€0.00	€0.00
Newstalk	€18,142.68	€0.00	€0.00
RTE Accounts Department	€23,213.79	€21,242.10	€19,065.00
Shawnee Ltd T/A Urban Media	€28,150.56	€11,987.58	€11,906.40
Today FM	€9,409.50	€0.00	€0.00
Communicorp One Limited	€0.00	€12,054.00	€23,062.50
iRadio LTD	€0.00	€1,476.00	€0.00
Spin 103.8	€0.00	€3,444.00	€2,214.00
Total	€97,960.62	€56,658.72	€60,183.90

2. Higher Education Authority Expenditure on Springboard:
Expenditure incurred for advertisement slots on local and national radio stations for the Springboard Campaign. This campaign will also be run in 2017 so further expenditure will be incurred, the full details of which are not known at this stage.
Payee	2014	2015	2016
Beat 102 to 103	€0.00	€0.00	€2,410.80
Cork 96fm	€2,402.19	€1,918.80	€0.00
Corks Red FM	€0.00	€1,845.00	€4,450.14
Galway Bay FM	€0.00	€1,845.00	€1,918.80
Highland Radio	€738.00	€0.00	€1,726.92
Limerick Live 95fm	€0.00	€672.81	€0.00
LMFM Radio	€615.00	€0.00	€0.00
Midlands 103	€0.00	€0.00	€676.50
Radio Telefis Eireann	€38,371.08	€11,999.88	€12,300.00
South East Radio	€738.00	€0.00	€0.00
Spin 1038	€0.00	€0.00	€4,833.90
WLRfm	€615.00	€0.00	€0.00
Grand Total	€43,479.27	€18,281.49	€28,317.06

3. Higher Education Authority Expenditure on Enterprise Partnership Scheme
Enterprise Partnership Scheme expenditure was for a promotional video in 2014 and there are no plans for further expenditure on this scheme.
Payee	2014	2015	2016
Radio Telefis Eireann	€18,098.31	€0.00	€0.00