Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Feb 2002

Vol. 547 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Expenditure.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

337 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of the advertisement published in a newspaper (details supplied) on 27 January 2002 concerning the Disability Bill, 2001; the budget heading from which the advertisement was funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3550/02]

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

The total cost of the advertisement to which the Deputy refers will be approximately €2,720, £2,140. The budget from which payment for the advertisement will be made is subhead Q of my Department's Vote. I am informed that my Department was approached by the newspaper in question soliciting the placement of an advertisement on a feature page they proposed to run about disability. The rate offered was very competitively priced and well below the normal cost for a full colour advertisement of its type and size. Officials considered that an advertisement on the page, which would be especially likely to be read by people with disabilities, their families and carers, represented good value for money.

The advertisement placed drew attention to the main legislation sponsored by the Department of relevance to people with disabilities, including the Equal Status Act 2000, National Disability Authority Act, 1999, and the Employment Equality Act 1998, as well as highlighting the policy of mainstreaming services for people with disabilit ies and the Disability Bill 2001, which is currently before this House. At the same time, my Department was approached by the newspaper for an article by the Minister of State about the Disability Bill 2001. The article appeared on the page together with articles from Dublin Bus and Vantastic and a number of advertisements.