Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

204. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure by his Department by heading (details supplied) in each of the years since June 1997 to January 2011, in tabular form; and the miscellaneous expenditure not relating to set Department budgets pertaining to the headings. [52214/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the information requested by the Deputy spans a period between seven and twenty years ago, the bulk of it is not readily accessible and in some cases may no longer be retained by my Department. Efforts to retrieve any existing information would be disproportionate in terms of the cost to my Department and therefore to the Exchequer. I am, however in a position to provide data in respect of January 2010 – January 2011. This information is detailed in the table below.

The vast bulk of my Department’s advertising is in respect of press notices in the specialised farming press, provincial and national newspapers. This expenditure includes the publication of Statutory Notices that are required to comply with various national and EU legislative requirements. Decisions on the placement of notices are made on a case by case basis, depending on the nature of the advertisement and the target audience. In 2010 Brindley Advertising held the contract for the provision of the majority of advertising needs. Adverts typically included under this contract are afforestation notifications, aquaculture license applications, and Department schemes and services. 

My Department does not generally employ external public relations firms. Public relations advice is provided by my Department’s Press Office.