Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent by his Department in 2005 and from January 2006 to date for media purposes or advertising; where the money was spent, that is, national papers, provincial papers, RTÉ radio, local radio and so on; the amount spent on a yearly basis for the previous three years; if money was spent on videos, for promotional, educational or advertising purposes. [27961/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The following table shows the total amounts spent on advertising under Votes 28 (Foreign Affairs) and 29 (International Cooperation) for 2003 to date:

Advertising undertaken by this Department typically includes advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, employment opportunities that arise in the Department from time to time, as well as public information notices relating to developments in the European Union or in regard to Ireland's official Development Aid Programme. The Department uses a wide range of national newspapers, both daily and Sunday publications. The choice of particular newspapers to be selected on each occasion is dependent on a number of factors, including the specific context and subject matter, the target audience and, of course, value for money considerations. The placing of official notices and Departmental advertisements is the subject of tender arrangements organised for all Government Departments by the Government Supplies Agency. The firm which holds the current contract is Brindley Advertising Ltd.

From 2003 to date, the Department has produced or contributed to the production of several videos, television programmes and DVDs for the purpose of informing and educating citizens about overseas development assistance and about the European Union. Details of the various productions are as follows:

The European Union

The Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) funded the production of one media series and a number of DVDs/Videos in 2003 and 2004. All of these were produced with the intention of informing viewers about the nature and role of the European Union. In 2004, the CEI allocated €21,725.66 to the National Forum on Europe for the development of a DVD entitled "Towards a Constitution for Europe". It also provided €19,374.15 as part-funding for the production of a DVD entitled "The Day of Welcomes" containing highlights of the ceremonies marking the enlargement of the EU at Áras an Uachtaráin on 1 May 2004. In 2003, the CEI provided €23,493.54 towards the production costs of the National Forum on Europe's "Journey of Discovery" educational video which examined EU enlargement, the institutional make-up of the EU and the debate on the future of Europe. In addition, the CEI provided funding of €86,999 towards the production of "Europe — How are You?", a TV series which addressed enlargement, EU institutions and the debate on the future of Europe. VHS copies of these programmes were circulated to every secondary school in the country.

Overseas Development Assistance

Irish Aid has co-funded two TV documentary series entitled Far Away Up Close, which were broadcast on RTE in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The programmes, produced independently by Animo Television, were designed to give Irish people an introduction to how their tax money is being spent on development programmes around the world. They looked at Irish Aid programmes in the areas of HIV/AIDS, recovery assistance after conflicts, food security and support for civil society. To accompany the series, there was a dedicated website with further information on the topics and themes covered in the TV programmes. The cost of the programmes was €311,711 in 2004 and €293,367 in 2005.

White Paper Promotional Video Presentation

As part of the preparation of the Government White Paper on Irish Aid, a series of public meetings were held around the country during the second half of 2005. A short video presentation was prepared and shown at the beginning of each of the meetings. The video was produced by Animo Television using footage from the Far Away Up Close programmes and cost €20,146.

Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund

The purpose of the Simon Cumbers Media Challenge Fund (named after Simon Cumbers who was tragically shot while filming for the BBC in Saudi Arabia in June 2004) is to financially assist journalists, media organisations and development practitioners in producing feature media pieces on themes relating to international development.

Over the last three years, the funding awarded was as follows:

2003 €130,170

2004 €193,360

2005 €121,604

Development Education

The Development Education Grants scheme provides funding, in two annual rounds, to approximately 70 organisations working in education. Development education activities funded under the grant scheme include, on occasions, the production of audio visual material of a general development nature. An annual budget of €4.54 million has been allocated for Development Education in 2006. Finally, the Deputy may wish to note that, in addition to visual media productions, the Department has for many years supported the Worlds Apart documentary series on RTE radio which covers the issues and challenges facing developing countries.