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.
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 €231,793.50.