asked the Minister for Finance if he will state in relation to the last complete financial year for which figures are available, the amount expended by his Department or by agencies directly controlled or funded by his Department on press advertising in newspapers and magazines published in this country; and the amount expended with each newspaper or periodical concerned.
Written Answers. - Advertising by Department.
599.
In relation to the group of Votes for which I am responsible the amount expended in 1982 (the last complete financial year for which figures are available) on press advertising in newspapers and magazines published in this country was £310,878.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the amount expended with each newspaper or periodical concerned is not readily available and could only be compiled by the expenditure of an inordinate amount of staff time. In general, however, it is the policy of my Department to place advertisements with each of the four main national daily newspapers (i.e. The Irish Times, The Irish Independent, The Irish Press and The Cork Examiner) and with the main provincial newspapers, as appropriate.