Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Public Relations Contracts.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

992 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount which was spent in his Department from June 1997 to December 2001 for media purposes and advertising; if he will categorise where the money was spent; the amount spent of a year to year basis; and the money which was spent on videos, whether for promotional, educational or advertising purposes. [2074/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tabular statement.

I can inform the Deputy that this expenditure relates to advertising costs in relation to such matters as recruitment, tender competitions, availability of funding under national development plan, raising of awareness on particular issues, information on legislation, provision of accommodation for asylum seekers, invitations to make submissions to review groups and information regarding holiday opening and closing times of the Department's offices.

The Deputy will appreciate that advertisements which my Department wishes to place in local and national press must be routed through the central Government contract which has been placed for this purpose. In this context, my Department does not routinely maintain records in relation to individual publications but, rather of the totals invoiced and paid on foot of the contract.

Year	Print Media	National Radio	Local Radio	Video	Other*
June 1997 to December, 1997	68,994.19			32,468.80
	£54,337.34			£25,571.26
1998	301,431.35
	£237,396.49
1999	339,842.12
	£267,647.42
2000	519,363.59	6,590.32		6,952.13	7,681.92
	£409,032.08	£5,190.30		£5,475.25	£6,050.00
2001	678,997.01	333,708.45	41,192.05	10,157.90	25,394.33
	£534,753.61	£262,816.76	£32,441.38	£8,000.00	£19,999.66

*Includes the cost of Recruitment Fairs and Postmark advertising.