I propose to take Questions Nos. 571 and 572 together.
My Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State.
In this context, I am fully committed to ensuring that members of the general public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services that are available, as well as ensuring that key changes are communicated to them.
Public information campaigns are therefore an important part of the Department’s work. These campaigns are developed and targeted carefully, using the best mix of media formats, including social media platforms, to ensure that the Department’s messages reach members of the public effectively while offering value for money.
My Department issues these communications through its Press Office and, where appropriate, also arranges to have them streamed through the Government of Ireland merrionst.ie platform, an example of which was the recent video on the welfare increases from Budget 2019 which commenced last month.
The Department also shares and cross promotes other Department messaging on an ongoing basis to ensure important public information reaches as wide an audience as possible. My Department has not procured any specialist agency to assist in the formulation or contribution to policy messaging on social media.
Where required, the Department engages professional videographers to record, and edit video clips and engages a creative agency when producing social and digital media content as part of the Department’s own public information campaigns.