Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department's press office generally deals with all media queries and public relations matters. No money has been spent by my Department on public relations companies since 2006.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Advertising for the Department falls under two categories:

· Routine newspaper/magazine advertisements to advise the public of office closures, relocations or recruitment.

· General advertising to raise awareness of schemes and services including campaigns on radio, television and in the print media.

The amount of money spent by my Department on advertising in national and local media is as follows:

In 2006, awareness campaigns were held in respect of Family Income Supplement, Carers Benefit and Respite Care Grant. In 2007, the awareness campaigns related to the introduction of the All Ireland Free Travel scheme, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme and the new Half Rate Carer's scheme and in 2008, advertising costs incurred were in respect of a campaign on the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme, on inviting submissions and input from the public in relation to the Green Paper on Pensions and the development of the Carer's Strategy and Customer Action Plan and Charter.

There has been no major advertising awareness campaigns undertaken since 2008 and the costs incurred from 2009 to date related to routine advertising.

There were no costs incurred by my Department on advertising with international media during this period.