Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
1137. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the budget and spend in his Department for marketing, media and social media in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the projected spend for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54467/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPress and public relations functions are generally undertaken by my Department's Press Office. The engagement of external expertise is only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department.
The details requested for the years 2016 onward have previously been provided in reply to Questions No. 825 of 11 July 2017, 744 of 14 December 2017 and 625 of 2 October 2018. Details of 2018 expenditure were provided in response to Questions No. 667 of 20 November 2018 and 586 of 19 December 2018. There has been no further expenditure to date.
While it is not possible to project total expenditure for 2019, it is anticipated that there will be expenditure in respect of public information campaigns on the European and local elections, referendums, consultations on the Electoral Commission and Electoral Register Reform and the annual register awareness campaign; €250,000 has been budgeted for this expenditure. In addition, the expected approximate spend on general advertising on fire safety issues is €110,000, with the cost of my Department’s annual Fire Safety Campaign not yet available. It could be expected that there may be other expenditure during the course of the year also.
