Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
254. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53073/23]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs.
As with other Government Departments, the Department of Foreign Affairs engages the services of a third-party media agency (PHD Media) for the purposes of advertisement placement and reaching audiences across a range of mediums including digital advertising, print media, radio, outdoor and TV.
The Department’s spend on advertising and public awareness campaigns is primarily conducted through this agency with the aim of maximising the audience reach, without direct engagement or financial transactions with the websites Facebook and Instagram.
The below figures represent the costs of DFA HQ advertising activity placed with the websites Facebook and Instagram that took place within each of the relevant calendar years.
Facebook and Instagram totals spent 2021- 27 November 2023
|
Year |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Totals (€) |
105,964.53 |
104,706.00 |
122,188.00 |
