Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 594: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of his Department's biodiversity awareness campaign; the audited outcome of the campaign; his views on whether there has been value for money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17736/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The 'Notice Nature' biodiversity campaign commenced in 2007 and expenditure on the campaign amounted to €645,000 last year. Further expenditure of €266,000 is envisaged for 2008.

As the campaign is still running, there has been no final audit of its outcome. However, my Department is working closely with the consultants responsible for the design and delivery of the campaign to ensure that it is being delivered in an efficient and effective manner. I believe that the campaign has provided excellent value for money to date. It has achieved notable success in winning an EU award for best practice in an environmental awareness campaign, in the Hague, in October 2007. Moreover, the campaign website (www.noticenature.ie) won a gold award at the Graphic Design Business Association annual awards ceremony in November 2007.

I believe that increased public awareness of the importance of biodiversity is essential to Ireland's drive to meet our commitments as a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity.