Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
20. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department uses community radio for advertising and public awareness campaigns; if not, the reason, given the vital role community radio often plays in the dissemination of information to local communities; if his Department will consider using community radio for public awareness campaigns in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14169/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses traditional and online advertising to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad. This includes campaigns relating to passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have been a significant element of campaigns. The Department also uses traditional and online advertising to communicate to international audiences with the aim of projecting Ireland’s visibility and values abroad.
My Department’s campaigns use a wide range of media to reach as many citizens as possible. This includes digital and social media, video on demand (VOD), print, display touchpoints, as well as a mix of audio ads including national and regional radio stations to maximise coverage across the country and to include urban and rural communities.
In order to reach the greatest audience possible, the majority of this advertising is undertaken using commercial radio stations. However, mindful of the important role community radio can play for individual campaigns, my Department considers all options in this regard. The recent cross-governmental media campaign to raise awareness of Brexit-related UK import controls implemented at the end of January 2024 included radio ads that aired on regional and local radio outlets, as well as Dublin City FM. Dublin City Council facilitated this partnership.
