Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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214. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the costs incurred by his Department for the eight-page feature on the action plan on education 2018 in a newspaper (details supplied) on 14 February 2018. [8679/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Education 2018 provides a roadmap to achieve the ambition to make the Irish Education and Training service the best in Europe by 2026 and to transform peoples' lives and to help everyone achieve their potential in life. Almost one quarter of our population are learners and there is a huge level of interest in the work of the education and training service due to its widespread impact.

Following consultation between the Department of the Taoiseach and Ministers and Secretaries General of Departments, a set of priority information campaigns was compiled. Cabinet subsequently approved the agreed priority information campaigns which included the Action Plan for Education 2018.

A team from the Department of the Taoiseach worked with a team from the Department of Education on the launch of the Action Plan for Education. This work included the production of a video, social media support and a content partnership with a national daily newspaper. While the cost was not met by my Department, I understand it amounted to €8,600, excluding VAT.