asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will state the reasons why a certain Waterford City newspaper, whose sales are uncertified, secures almost three times as much Government advertising from his Department as any other Waterford City newspaper, and whether he will take steps to ensure that such advertising is equally divided between the city newspaper in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Government Advertising.
The amount of newspaper advertising by my Department in the Waterford area is very limited—about £30 a year on average is spent—and is mainly composed of wayleave notices in connection with telegraph and telephone extensions. There is a statutory requirement to publish particulars of wayleave two weeks in succession in one and the same newspaper circulating in the area over which the line is to be extended. The Department accordingly places each two advertisements in the newspaper considered to give the best coverage in the particular area concerned. The statutory requirement makes it difficult to divide the small amount of advertising equally between newspapers, but I am arranging that as far as possible this will be done.
Is the Minister aware that the paper which gets most of the advertising has not got any certified sales at all, whereas the paper with certified sales is not getting advertising?
The answer I have to give the Deputy is that an arrangement has been made since last June, which has not become completely effective yet, but which, he will find, will reflect itself in a better distribution so far as it is possible, subject to the statutory requirements, amongst the local papers.