Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the reasons for Deputy Smyth asking this question but I strongly disagree. I believe the spend is justified, particularly in the first year of the programme. This is a communication platform across the board where we highlight the Creative Ireland programme. In the breakdown of the €5 million budget for 2017, while €900,000 went towards citizen engagement, Cruinniú na Cásca received €1.25 million and the local authority partnership received €1 million. The events, festivals and partnerships sector received €490,000, digital content spend was €400,000, international spend was €200,000, administrative support received €500,000 and other initiatives received €260,000. For people to have creativity at the heart of policy making and for them to be aware of it, we have to highlight it, especially in the first year of the programme. We will use citizen engagement again this year. We do not know yet exactly how much it will be. This was a widespread and warranted communications strategy. It presented value for money and my Department is very satisfied about it.

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