Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2018
221. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of each instance of advertorial content commissioned by his Department and agencies under its remit in the past 12 months; the date this content was published; the purpose of this content; the cost of its publication; the publication or platform on which it was published, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10768/18]
View answerMy Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting, and regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and to address specific issues as they arise. The Department therefore necessarily incurs some expenditure on advertorials from time to time.
In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keeping expenditure to the minimum necessary.
The information which the Deputy requested is outlined in the following table:
Advertorial content commissioned since 26th February 2017
|
Purpose of the content |
Date published |
Cost (incl VAT) |
Publication/Platform |
|
Raise awareness of the Department’s Trading Online Voucher Scheme |
March 2017 |
€6,150 |
Irish Independent Newspaper |
|
Tidy Towns magazine - Clean Air Award, Sustainable Award and Climate Change Award |
May 2017 |
€12,300 |
Tidy Towns magazine |
