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Tuesday, 30 Nov 2021

Written Answers Nos. 1-54

National Economic and Social Council

Questions (22)

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

22. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the work of the National Economic and Social Council. [57674/21]

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Written answers

The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland.

The NESC work programme includes work in five areas:

1. Shared Island: NESC is undertaking a programme of research covering a range of issues, including economy, regional development, poverty, mental health, climate, biodiversity and well-being. It will produce a comprehensive report on the Shared Island in Q1 2022.

This research is part of a comprehensive research programme on Shared Island matters, involving the NESC, as well as the ESRI, the Irish Research Council and other partners.

2. Climate and Biodiversity: NESC is providing advice in relation to just transition, including case studies and work on developing indicators. It is also beginning a significant piece of research and consultation on climate, biodiversity and transition in agriculture.

3. Housing: NESC research has helped build consensus on the need for change in our housing system. In 2022, it will further consider practical aspects of a more pro-active land management system. It will also continue to examine housing systems that achieve affordability, inclusion and sustainability, drawing on aspects of the Irish system, including initial cost rental projects, and international experience.

4. Ireland’s Well-Being Framework: In 2021, NESC carried out a consultation with a range of stakeholders and experts. In the coming year its work will examine the implementation of well-being frameworks, looking at international work and drawing on selected Irish work in such areas as performance and equality budgeting, and sectoral approaches in certain areas such as children’s well-being. It will also look at how specific groups within society experience inequality.

5. Recovery and Resilience: This work will examine aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic to help identify strategic lessons about public governance and how government can be supported to arrange and manage its activity to deliver the best results for society.

The Council has so far published five reports in 2021:

·Grounding the Recovery in Sustainable Development: A Statement from the Council (NESC Report No. 152)

·Shared Island: Projects, Progress & Policy Scoping Paper (NESC Report No. 153)

·Digital Inclusion in Ireland: Connectivity, Devices & Skills (NESC Report No. 154)

·Ireland’s Well-Being Framework: Consultation Report (NESC Report No. 155)

·Collaboration on Climate and Biodiversity: Shared Island as a Catalyst for Renewed Ambition & Action (NESC Report No.156)

As reports are finalised in the relevant areas they are brought to Government for approval in advance of publication.

Questions Nos. 23 and 24 resubmitted.

Departmental Advertising

Questions (25)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

25. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a detailed breakdown on the moneys spent on online advertising by his Department since he took office; and the specific campaigns that the moneys were spent on. [56152/21]

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Written answers

Since taking up Office in June last year, my Department has spent €1,520,189 in online advertising. €1,507,897 of this spend has been on the Government’s coordinated approach on 32 COVID-19 public information Campaigns.

Included with the answer is a table with a detailed breakdown of campaign online costs since June 2020 as requested by the Deputy.

Campaign:

Online Advertising

Phase 4 Reopening - July Delay

€11,140

July Jobs Stimulus

€137,732

Dublin/Limerick High incidence awareness

€10,679

Living with COVID (Announcement, Framework & Household booklet)

€131,091

Donegal Level 3 (Sept)

€4,110

Reinforcing Public Health Messaging Nationwide

€42,777

Nationwide Level 3 (Oct)

€12,243

3 Counties L4 / National L3 update

€3,821

Nationwide Level 5 (Oct)

€24,111

Keep Well - Community Wellbeing

€94,119

#Antiviral

€55,829

#Safe Christmas Phase 1

€108,765

#SafeChristmas P2 - (Christmas week)

€46,418

#SafeChristmas P3 - Gathering/Dinner

€59,351

Christmas transition to Level 5

€79,512

Dec/Jan return to full Level 5

€61,058

January Additional Level 5 measures

€65,879

Stay at home - Do the Right Thing

€17,894

Stay the Course - Do the Right Thing

€17,998

Reopening of Schools Spring 2021

€80,986

How it started

€11,999

Avoid the Surge

€9,999

30th March Announcement

€58,941

Antiviral Phase 2 - Real Stories part 2

€17,276

Stay Local for April

€19,999

Stay Local for April update

€6,875

Recovery Plan Summer - May

€100,313

Economic Recovery Plan

€30,514

Recovery Plan Summer - June

€76,700

Recovery Plan Summer - July

€31,268

Maintain Progress - August 2021

€9,116

Reframing the Challenge

€69,382

Future of Media Commission public consultation

€12,292

TOTAL Costs

€1,520,189

Departmental Strategies

Questions (26)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

26. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if he will provide an update regarding the public conversation on the Well-being Framework for Ireland. [56153/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Well-being Framework for Ireland is being jointly sponsored by my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Finance.

The First Report on this was approved by Government and published in July. It will help us to consider, understand and measure Ireland’s progress more holistically through the recovery and beyond.

A follow-up phase of consultation and engagement on the initial Framework is currently underway. This ‘Public Conversation’ on the well-being initiative was launched on the 26th of October to create awareness, gain feedback on the framework, and to get a broader sense of people’s priorities.

Key elements of this conversation include:

- an online survey targeting a wide audience;

- thematic workshops; and

- a large online stakeholder event, on 17th November.

A Government well-being portal has also been developed alongside the CSO’s interactive dashboard.

A follow up report will be submitted to Government in early 2022, informed by this Public Conversation and broader ongoing work. This second report will also identify steps for fully embedding the Framework within the policy-making process.

Questions Nos. 27 to 54, inclusive, resubmitted.
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