Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023

Thursday, 29 June 2023

Questions (286)

Denis Naughten

Question:

286. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the total advertising budget allocated by her 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 she has sought and secured an assurance that none of this funding was rebated via the RTÉ advertising barter account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32004/23]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not have a fixed annual advertising budget. As policy implementation dictates, advertising can be sought to deliver specific policy objectives or legal obligations. In the period of time in question, this has included awareness campaigns on school transport, promoting the teaching profession, the reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other matters such as local planning notices for school buildings and the advertising of the opportunity to engage with scoping inquiries.

The total advertising spend by year by my Department is given in the table below. This spend includes costs associated with media buying and creative costs, as well as some costs relating to events and Irish Sign Language (ISL) translation services.

Department of Education spending on advertising

-	Year	Amount
	2023 to June	€43,435.57
	2022	€674,899.67
	2021	€879,720.08
	2020	€613,409.24
	2019	€285,014.64
	2018	€337,812.21
	2017	€71,630.37
	2016	€79,913.20
	2015	€114,838.31
	2014	€124,961.03
	2013	€310,157.35
	Total	€3,535,791.67

The information in respect of agencies within the scope of the Deputy’s question is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out in the attached document should the Deputy wish to contact them directly with this query. 

A contract with a media buying agency has been in place since 2018. The spend on advertising with RTÉ in that time by my department has amounted to €191,941. In addition, my Department paid RTÉ €1,000 in 2015 for activities relating to the 1916 Commemoration.

I can confirm that the media buying agency has never used a barter account for any business for my Department. 

Contact E-Mail Addresses for State Bodies under the Remit of the Department of Education as at 03 February 2023
Name of Body	Dedicated Email address for the Members of the Oireachtas	Designated Official Responsible for assisting Oireachtas Members
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
Educational Research Centre	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Note 1	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
State Examinations Commission	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
The Teaching Council	[e-mail]	[e-mail]
National Council for Special Education	[e-mail]	[e-mail] and [e-mail]
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund – Caranua	[e-mail]	[e-mail]

Note 1 - The spelling of the NCCA e-mail address to which Oireachtas queries may be addressed has been verified with the NCCA as being accurate