Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for Health the amount of money spent by him on public relations companies each year since 2006. [40181/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Press and Communications Office of my Department liaise with the media on behalf of the Department as well as all Ministers and do not use the services of a PR company. However, my Department has availed of these services in areas such as health promotion campaigns including, inter alia, smoking cessation, alcohol awareness, men's health, obesity and breast feeding. Work carried out by these companies included public awareness and communications campaigns, as well as advertising and consumer research.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department to the end of 2010 is set out as follows. Details in respect of 2011 are not available at this time. This information will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy.

Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Health the amount of money spent by him on advertising with international, national and local media for each year since 2006. [40197/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department to the end of 2010 is set out as follows. Details in respect of 2011 are not readily available at this time. They will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy.

Responsibility for many advertising and promotional campaigns transferred to the Health Service Executive in early 2006. This includes media campaigns in relation to alcohol, smoking, illegal drugs, obesity etc. Resulting from this transfer of responsibility, the Department's costs for advertising etc. reduced substantially since 2006. The expenditure in 2007 relates exclusively to a public information campaign on the Nursing Homes Support Scheme - "A Fair Deal". Expenditure in 2008, 2009 and 2010 relates to a number of public consultation and information campaigns.