Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the expenditure by her Department on advertising and awareness activities since January 2008; the amount spent on same for the period January 2007 to January 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34496/08]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of money that was spent by her Department on advertising and awareness activities since January 2008; the amount of money spent on same for the period January 2007 to January 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34825/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 131 together.

The Department undertakes advertising and awareness activities to ensure that all members of the public are made aware of their rights and entitlements and that they are kept informed of changes and improvements in schemes and services as they occur. The amount spent on advertising and awareness activities in any one year is determined by the number of specific activities as well as the media used. In addition, the Department also undertakes routine advertising such as notices in relation to Christmas and Easter arrangements and recruitment. The Department uses a mix of advertising media including national and provincial newspapers, radio and television, information leaflets, fact sheets, posters and direct mailshots.

The total amount spent on advertising and awareness activities in 2007 was €1.4m. Having regard to the current budgetary circumstances, the expenditure on advertising and public awareness activities will be reduced in 2008 and 2009. The total allocation in 2008 for awareness campaigns and routine advertising was €1.6m. However, it is estimated that expenditure to the end of 2008 will be approximately €1.2m giving savings of €400,000. The total allocation for advertising in 2009 is €800,000 giving additional reduction in expenditure of €400,000.

This action is being taken in a situation where information on the full range of social welfare schemes and services is available from the Department's local offices and the nationwide network of Citizens Information Centres. In addition, many people access information on the Department's and Citizen Information Board's websites. Essential advertising campaigns will continue to be undertaken as required.

The total amount spent to date in 2008 on advertising and awareness campaigns is €1.1m. In February and March 2008 separate advertisements were placed in the national newspapers inviting public submissions on the development of the Department's Customer Action Plan and Customer Charter, and on the development of a National Carers' Strategy at a total cost of €199,000.

In February and April 2008 advertisements, costing almost €260,000, were placed in national newspapers in relation to the Green Paper on Pensions inviting participation at public seminars and giving notification of the closing date for receipt of submissions.

The back to school clothing and footwear allowance and the budget enquiry line were advertised in 2008 at a cost of €192,000 and €34,000, respectively. General advertising costs amounted to €418,000 to date in 2008.

In 2007, the amount spent on such activities was almost €1.4m. The main advertising campaigns in 2007 related to the introduction of all-Ireland free travel scheme, which has enabled citizens aged 66 or over to travel for free within Northern Ireland with effect from April 2007, which cost €400,000; the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, which cost €200,000; and the new half-rate carer's allowance, which has enabled considerable numbers of people to claim half of the carer's allowance payment in addition to another social welfare payment, which cost €310,000. These campaigns were advertised on a range of media including TV, radio, newspapers & magazines at a combined cost of €910,000.

In October and December 2007, advertisements were also placed in the newspapers inviting submissions from the public in relation to the Green Paper on Pensions; and in November 2007 on an equality review of the social welfare code at a combined cost of €268,000. In 2007, advertisements were placed in the print media to inform the public of the Department's PRSI emailing service and the budget 2008 enquiry line. General advertising costs amounted to €132,000 in 2007.

Details of the activities undertaken and the amount spent for the periods in question are available to the Deputies in tabular form.