Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
232. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total advertising budget allocated by his Department and agencies in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, respectively; the funding provided directly to RTÉ in each year; if he has sought and secured an assurance that none of this funding was rebated via the RTÉ advertising barter account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32005/23]
View answerIn response to your question please see the table attached which sets out my Department’s allocation for its AD8 subhead for the past ten years.
During this period there was a €63,250 spend with RTÉ in 2021 through media buying agency Spark Foundry as part of a wider multi-platform campaign to promote the National Remote Work Strategy: Making Remote Work. The Department has received assurances from Spark Foundry that there was no use of an ‘advertising barter account’ to facilitate this spend.
The AD8 subhead covers the cost of advertising and publicity requirements of the Department across all media platforms. This incorporates both the Department’s statutory obligations and its remit to advertise and promote policies and initiatives. It also covers the cost of the Department’s media monitoring service, photography services, book purchases and staff subscriptions to online and hard copy resources which assist them in their work.
The advertising activity of the Agencies under my Department’s remit is an operational matter for them and I do not have any direct function in these matters.
