Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Transport if his Department has carried out an advertising campaign to promote policies or programmes being implemented by his Department; the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and any consultancy or production costs for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15298/08]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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This Department has over-arching responsibility as "Managing Authority" under EU rules for the effective management of the EU-assisted infrastructure elements (national roads, public transport, waste water, sustainable energy) of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme (ESIOP) 2000-2006. The end date for incurring expenditure on the EU-assisted elements is 31st December, 2008. The management of this Programme includes responsibility for ensuring compliance with EU regulations on publicity requirements in relation to projects in receipt of EU Structural Fund assistance under the Programme. The implementation and funding of the EU publicity requirements is a matter for the agencies and bodies which have responsibility for delivery of the infrastructure projects concerned. No such advertising or publicity costs are borne by or attributable to the Department of Transport.

The Irish Coast Guard carry out advertising each year under the Safety On The Water campaign in order to promote safety on the waters, rivers and lakes of Ireland. The cost of this advertising for the years 2003 to 2007 is as follows:

The Minister launched The Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft on 24 May 2006. The Code sets out current legislative requirements governing recreational craft as well as providing detailed guidance and information on best practice for the safe operation of such craft. It is aimed at all recreational craft operating in coastal and inland waters whether used for competitive or non-competitive purposes. It covers sailing craft, including windsurfers, motorboats, ski boats, craft propelled using outboard engines, personal watercraft (jet skis), canoes, kayaks and non-powered craft.

Costs associated with the publication, including costs for the translation into Irish amounted to €49,450.20. This sum included €12,534.85 consultancy costs in respect of design and layout, and €1,996.50 for advertising in publications. My Department is currently undertaking a media advertising campaign which aims to raise public awareness of the Transport 21 investment programme. The costs for 2007 and 2008 are set out below. No such costs were incurred in previous years.

Following the introduction of an EU Regulation laying down new rules for the carriage of liquids and gels on board aircraft, which came into force on 6 November 2006, my Department placed newspaper advertisements to bring the new requirements to the attention of the travelling public. The advertisements were placed in a number of publications on 31 October 2006 at a total cost of €15,955.42 (inc VAT).