Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 December 2019
561. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the advertising campaigns, promotional events and launches planned by her Department for the first six months of 2020; the budgeted costs of these campaigns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51404/19]
View answerThere are currently three areas in my Department with planned campaigns in the first six months of 2020. These relate to the Children First Awareness week, Oberstown Children Detention Campus, and the National Childcare Scheme. Some details are being finalised for these campaigns, and costs are based on estimates.
Children First Awareness Week
Tusla, on behalf of the Children First Interdepartmental Implementation Group (CFIDIG), is currently preparing a campaign plan for a Children First Awareness Week in February/ March 2020. While the details of the awareness week have yet to be agreed, a budget of up to €125,000 has been made available for it, sourced mainly from my Department but with contributions from other CFIDIG members also.
Oberstown Children Detention Campus
The Oberstown Children Detention Campus have two planned campaigns in the first six months of 2020. The launch of the Annual Report, for which there is a budget of €4,500, and a recruitment campaign planned for the Oberstown website and social media, which has no associated costs.
National Childcare SchemeThe National Childcare Scheme website went live on the 20th November. This world class IT system allows parents to access tailored childcare supports that meet the needs of each family.
The Information campaign in 2019 has already proven to be hugely successful. In just its first few weeks, over 1 million hits on the new website with over 10,000 applications, supporting over 14,800 children, have already been successfully submitted to the Scheme. In order to maintain awareness of this new Scheme as well as parents' requirement to apply online there is a need to maintain the engagement that we have generated in 2019.
The Department will therefore continue to attend various events such as the Early Childhood Ireland conference to promote the National Childcare Scheme in 2020. On top of this the Department will run a multifaceted targeted communications campaign to continue public awareness and engagement of the Scheme across various advertising channels including Digital, Radio, and print.
The estimated cost of communication activities associated with the National Childcare Scheme communications activities for the first six months of 2020 is €46,000.
