Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Transport the cost of the quarter page advertisement published in a newspaper (details supplied) of 8 November 2005 regarding travel and traffic arrangements for the Dublin area in the run up to Christmas and featuring a colour photograph of the Minister of State; if other such advertisements are planned; if so, the publications of same; the planned date of publication; the cost in each case; if each advertisement will feature a photograph of the Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34023/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Transport the cost in terms of preparation, production and publication of the planned supplement regarding Operation Freeflow that is due to appear in a newspaper (details supplied) of 27 November 2005; if tenders were sought for the publication of this supplement; if all public procurement requirements were complied with in regard to the supplement; if similar features are planned for any other publications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34024/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 403: To ask the Minister for Transport the cost of the quarter page advertisement published in a newspaper (details supplied) of 8 November 2005 regarding travel and traffic arrangements for the Dublin area in the run up to Christmas and featuring a colour photograph of the Minister of State; if other such advertisements are planned in the newspaper; if so, the planned date of publication and the cost in each case; if each advertisement will feature a photograph of the Minister of State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34130/05]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 407: To ask the Minister for Transport the amount of public money which was spent on the Minister of State's recent advertisements in newspapers (details supplied) on 8 November 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34224/05]

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396, 403 and 407 together.

The advertisements in question were commissioned by the Dublin Transportation Office as part of a public information campaign for Operation Freeflow 2005. This operation is an annual initiative undertaken to manage control traffic in the greater Dublin area during the Christmas period, which is the busiest time of the year for businesses and shoppers.

Advertisements were placed in the Irish Independent and the Evening Herald. The rate card cost, excluding VAT, for the Irish Independent was €8,490 and the Evening Herald was €11,100. However, a discount was negotiated meaning that the actual cost was lower. Disclosure of the discounted cost would impede the DTO's ability to negotiate future discounts.

It was never planned to re-run this advertisement. However, an Operation Freeflow supplement is scheduled to appear in the Sunday Independent on 27 November. The cost of that supplement is €27,000, excluding VAT. In commissioning the supplement, an assessment of market penetration and good commercial value was undertaken by the DTO. The Independent Group was selected by the DTO on the basis of reach, circulation, readership, quality, availability and cost. I have been assured by the DTO that the principles underpinning procurement were applied in the assessment. No similar supplements are planned for other newspapers in 2005.