Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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178. To ask the Minister for Finance the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39639/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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In relation to my Department the following expenditure has been made on the headings identified by the Deputy from 1 January 2018 to date:

The Switch Your Bank campaign is funded, in its entirety, by AIB and Permanent TSB, as part of a range of competition measures agreed with the European Commission to raise awareness and promote customer switching of financial products.

- The Department of Finance facilitates this campaign as part of its remit to ensure that consumers are protected within the financial sector in Ireland and to ensure a healthy level of competition.

- The contract with Language Communications permitted them to appoint subcontractors for provision of services.

- Phase one of the public awareness campaign cost €738,000 in total.

- Phase two of the public awareness campaign will cost €405,900 in total.