Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 842: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount spent in 2008 on climate change awareness by his Department with a breakdown of the specific items the expenditure covered, and the amount of money it is estimated to be spent on climate change awareness in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10920/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The total cost incurred in 2008 on the National Climate Change Campaign was €7,130,525. The table provides a breakdown of the areas covered by this expenditure. The budget for 2009 is €3.5 million.

The campaign is designed to raise public awareness of climate change, its causes, impacts and implications for Ireland. It includes the change.ie website which features a carbon calculator, as well as a significant advertising element and the provision of the tools and techniques necessary to organisations in the business and public sector to enable them analyse sectoral emissions and develop carbon management of their operations.

The Change Campaign involves a significant stakeholder engagement element. Much of its resources are being used in working in partnership with stakeholders from various sectors to develop appropriate, relevant and useful tools and techniques to lower greenhouse gas emissions. A Carbon Management Tool for organisations is being developed as part of the campaign and I expect to launch this soon.

Given the scale of the campaign and the importance of the issue, comprehensive evaluation and monitoring systems have been put in place to track effectiveness in delivering on its objectives.