Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the value of advertising placed in national newspapers in 2005; the newspapers and the amount received for each of the past five years; and if the placing of official notices and departmental advertisements are subject to a tendering process. [7698/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department places advertising using an advertising agency. The contract with the agency was awarded following a competitive tender which was advertised at national and EU level in accordance with procedures set out in EU directives. The advertising of Government notices, statutory notices, is also subject to a contract. That contract is also subject to a competitive tendering process which is co-ordinated by the Government supplies agency on behalf of all Departments.

The details sought by the Deputy about the value of advertising placed by the Department in 2005 and over the past five years are set out in the following table:

In a typical year, the Department's advertising consists mainly of regulatory display advertising and statutory notices. Advertising expenditure in 2001 included as an exceptional measure €962,938 on the foot and mouth disease public awareness campaign which included newspaper, radio and television advertising. The increase in press advertising in 2004 and 2005 is due largely to increased expenditure on forestry advertising after forestry came back within the remit of my Department in 2004.