Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 December 2020
144. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current budgets in his Department for social media advertising for 2021; and the campaigns behind each budget line in tabular form. [44022/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department engages in public awareness advertising where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. In 2020, some examples of campaigns included the Passport Online and ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready’, both these campaigns will be ongoing in 2021.
Dependent on the situation in regard to international travel in 2021, the estimated budget for the Passport Online Campaign will be approximately €400,000. This is in line with previous such campaigns. The objective being to have a continual presence and awareness of the Online Passport Service for Irish adults and children. If it goes ahead, the campaign will have a multi-faceted approach, through social media platforms, national and regional print and broadcast media and outdoor advertising.
Expenditure on the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” Public Information campaign was approximately €710,000 in 2020. While the costs of the 2020 campaign were borne by my Department, this is a whole of Government campaign prepared and executed in partnership with other Government Departments and Agencies, in particular, the Department of the Taoiseach. The public information campaign will continue pending the outcome of the EU – UK negotiations and subsequent political developments and decisions. Campaign details and projected expenditure in this area will be made available once those plans have been finalised.
In addition to public awareness advertising my Department also participates in a number of public outreach opportunities. Such outreach events provide an effective means to engage with a broad cross-section of the public. They are particularly important in providing essential information concerning the services and programmes operated by the Department and to keep the public informed of the many areas of work where the Department of Foreign Affairs is active on their behalf.
In light of the ongoing pandemic, Public Outreach engagements currently foreseen for the first half of 2021 include providing a digital information stand and workshops at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition 2021, a digital celebration of Africa Day and online platforms to showcase Ireland and engage with our diaspora over the St. Patrick's Day period. The budget available for these events is still being finalised, but indicatively, the equivalent budget during 2020 was in the region of €220,000.
