Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 414: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount which was spent in his Department for the years 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 amounts spent on a yearly basis for each of the previous three years; and if money was spent on videos, for promotional, educational or advertising purposes. [27964/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department uses a mix of advertising media including national and provincial newspapers, radio and television, information leaflets, fact sheets, posters and direct mailshots to ensure that people are aware of their social welfare entitlements and are notified about improvements and changes affecting their payments and services. The amount spent on advertising in any one year is determined by the number of specific advertising campaigns which are undertaken.

To date in 2006, my Department has spent over €340,000 on advertising which comprised of €177,000 on print advertising and €163,000 on broadcast media. Print media expenditure comprised of €58,000 on national newspapers, €103,000 on provincial newspapers and €16,000 on posters. Broadcast media expenditure amounted to €101,000 on television advertising, €17,000 on national radio advertising and €45,000 on local radio advertising. The principal element of the expenditure incurred to date this year related to the Family Income Supplement entitlements awareness campaign which resulted in a significant increase in the numbers of new applications.

The total amount spent by my Department on advertising in 2005 was over €300,000 of which €240,000 was on print media comprised of €130,000 on national newspapers and €110,000 on provincial newspapers. Approximately €60,000 was spent on electronic display advertising. Two major information campaigns were undertaken in 2005; the first was on the Respite Care Grant scheme and the second was a general advertising campaign carried out across credit unions throughout the country, which highlighted the range of social welfare benefits, schemes and services available.

Expenditure on advertising, both print and broadcast media, for the previous three years, was in the region of €1.3m in 2002, €0.286m in 2003 and €0.475m in 2004.

Expenditure in 2002 covered a wide range of my Department's schemes and services and included specific campaigns such as promotion of the Farm Assist Scheme, the introduction of the Euro, promotion and awareness of the Personal Public Service Number and an information campaign in relation to improvements in the 2003 Budget. Costs of €80,000 were incurred on the production and transmission of a video in relation to the Farm Assist campaign.

Most of the advertising expenditure in 2003 arose in connection with general advertising regarding office closures, staff vacancies, etc., and a Budget information campaign.

Two information campaigns were undertaken in 2004. The first campaign promoted the Carers Benefit scheme and the second campaign alerted people coming up to pension age that they should apply for their pension at least three months before they reach pension age. Advertising is a key part of my Department's information strategy to ensure that people are aware of and claim their social welfare entitlements.