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Departmental Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2019

Wednesday, 20 November 2019

Questions (365)

Barry Cowen

Question:

365. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on public relations, promotion and advertising, including multi-media, in his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019 (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48249/19]

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Written answers

Press and public relations functions are generally undertaken by my Department's Press Office. The engagement of external expertise is only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department. 

The details requested for the years 2016 onward have previously been provided in reply to Question No 586 of 18 December 2018. Details of expenditure since 18 December 2018 are currently being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
As previously advised in my reply of 20 November 2019, Press and public relations functions are generally undertaken by my Department's Press Office. The engagement of external expertise is only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department. My Department undertakes public information campaigns where there is important information to be brought to the public’s attention. The advertising campaigns generally comprise traditional advertising methods including TV, radio, online and print as well as social media. From 2016 to date, my Department has not advertised on billboards; bus stops or public transport. Apart from advertisements created for television, the videos used to inform audiences of the work of the Department are produced by the Press and Communications Office in my Department. The figure for creative design production below refers to costs incurred in producing and targeting radio and TV advertisements.
Out of the figures below, €200,567 was spent by the Franchise Unit of my Department. This was for public information campaigns on electoral issues such as the annual Register of Electors Awareness campaign, the modernisation of the Electoral Register project and information for, and connected with, electors with a physical disability. This sum also includes €27,390 towards the cost of a special supplement to a national newspaper marking 100 years since women got the vote, produced in conjunction with the Royal Irish Academy. This supplement was widely distributed, including to all the schools in the country.
In addition, my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management spent €242,561 on a suite of important public health and safety campaigns including National Fire Safety Week.
The details requested for the years 2016 onward have previously been provided in reply to Question No 586 of 18 December 2018. Details of the expenditure by my Department on various public relations, promotions and advertising activities since 18 December 2018 are set out in the following table.

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Total (€)

1.

Online advertising

€19,022

2.

Radio advertising

€83,351

3.

Print advertising

€190,939

4.

Creative Design Production

€72,197

5.

TV advertising

€167,857

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