I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 to 84, inclusive, and 88 together.
The Strategic Communications Unit in my Department was involved in the Government initiatives in 2017 listed in the following table.
Initiative
|
SCU Involvement
|
Cost **
|
Back to School
|
Video support and sponsored posts on social media
|
Work completed, invoices to be received. Est costs €10,000 ex VAT
|
Treatment Benefits
|
Video support, sponsored posts on social media and provision of the Government of Ireland logo
|
€5,445.83
Further invoices due for social media spend
|
Winter Ready
|
Provision of Government of Ireland logo
|
NIL
|
Regional Development Fund
|
Video support, sponsored posts on social media and provision of the Government of Ireland logo
|
€7905.83
|
Budget '18
|
Video support, sponsored posts on social media and provision of the Government of Ireland logo
|
Work completed, invoices to be received. Est costs €15,000 ex VAT
|
Bliain na Gaeilge
|
Provision of the Government of Ireland logo - Rialtas na hEireann
|
NIL
|
Luas Cross City
|
Video support, sponsored posts on social media and provision of Government of Ireland logo.
|
Work completed, invoices to be received. Est costs €5,000 ex VAT
|
Healthy Ireland
|
Creative Production for Radio and Digital media campaign
|
€16,605 Further invoices to follow.
|
**These figures relate to expenditure incurred and to be incurred by the Strategic Communications Unit and do not include costs incurred by the relevant department on other media activity around each campaign.
There was no spend by my Department on advertising government Information campaigns in national and regional newspapers in 2017.
All contracts awarded by my Department are procured in accordance with standard public procurement rules through the Office of Government Procurement.
As part of the Government's simplification of communications for Irish citizens, one of the main projects under development is streamlining the myriad of Government identities into one unified Government of Ireland identity. International best practice has demonstrated that rationalising Government branding can create notable efficiencies, cost savings and significant improvement in clarity for citizens as to the work of Government.
Countries such as Canada, the UK and the Netherlands have successfully undertaken significant Government identity rationalisation projects in the last decade.
Building on the identity work developed as part of the Creative Ireland 2017 work programme - a streamlined identity "Rialtas na hÉireann" Government of Ireland, with the traditional Harp is now being piloted across Government.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.