Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 November 2019
361. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on public relations, promotion and advertising for the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and Project Ireland 2040 since its publication in February 2018 by category (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48127/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraProject Ireland 2040 (PI2040) is the Government’s long-term, overarching strategy to make Ireland a better country for all its people, integrating for the first time, the national spatial and investment strategies. The projects under these plans which include roads, schools, primary care centres, housing, sporting and cultural amenities and business activation facilities impact villages, towns, cities and regions across the length and breadth of Ireland.
Responsibility for Project Ireland 2040 communications lay with the Department of the Taoiseach and was managed by the Government Information Service from the launch of PI2040 in February 2018 until it was assigned to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 21 November 2019, so the costs arising fell to these Departments.
As part of the implementation of the National Planning Framework (NPF), my Department incurred miscellaneous expenditure over the course of 2018 totalling just under €70,000, the bulk of which relates to the roll-out of two key initiatives, the new Urban and Rural Development Fund (URDF) and the Land Development Agency (LDA). URDF expenditure of €38,673 includes launch events and videos as well as newspaper notices advertising the URDF call for proposals. LDA related expenditure of €22,232 includes a launch event, video, branding and business tools. Remaining expenditure includes document design and minor miscellaneous costs associated with the NPF itself.
