The amount spent on advertising in national daily and Sunday newspapers, provincial papers, television, national radio and local radio in my Department from 1 September 2001 to date is 832,689, £655,796. In that period, my Department advertised on a broad range of social welfare related issues such as the introduction of the euro, the payment arrangements for the budget 2002 increases, the promotion of Departmental grant schemes, the relocation of Departmental offices and industrial relations issues. This is in line with my Depart ment's view that advertising is vital in the effective delivery of social welfare services and in helping to ensure that our citizens are aware of their entitlements and are kept informed of changes and improvements as they occur across the broad range of schemes and other supports. Advertising in relation to the introduction of the euro and the budget 2002 improvements took the form of advertorials in the print media and television and radio commercials in the broadcast media.
In relation to print advertising in the period in question, 237,237, £186,839, was spent on 52 advertisements in seven national daily newspapers at an average cost per publication of 33,891, £26,691. A total of 191,280, £150,645, was spent on 14 advertisements in five Sunday newspapers at an average cost of 38,256, £30,129. A total of 235 advertisements were placed in 50 provincial newspapers at a cost of 142,637, £112,336, an average of 2,853, £2,247, per publication.
In relation to television advertising, there were approximately 373 slots on five television stations during the period in question costing 140,962, £111,017. The average cost per television station was 28,192, £22,203. There were 158 slots on three national radio stations amounting to 52,610, £41,434, at an average cost of 17,536, £13,811. In addition, there were 546 slots on 21 local and independent radio stations costing 67,963, £53,525, an average of 3,237, £2,549, per station.
My photograph appeared in ten of the 301 advertisements placed in the print media during the period in question. The phrase "A message from Dermot Ahern, TD., Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs" was used on an estimated 1,052 of the total of 1,077 slots available on radio and television.
I believe that my personal involvement in these campaigns emphasised the importance of the messages being conveyed and assisted in the effectiveness of the campaigns. As part of my ministerial responsibilities, I had a duty to ensure that my Department's transition to the euro ran smoothly and that, in particular, our customers were assured that they will not lose out financially as a result of the changeover. Similarly, I had a duty to inform our customers of the fact that budget increases in social welfare payments were effective from 1 January 2002 for the first time and of the special arrangements for the payment those increases.
