Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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633. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has carried out advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by her Department; the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and other consultancy or production costs for each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48308/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department administers over 70 separate schemes and services, which affect the lives of almost every person in the State. The Department is fully committed to ensuring that members of the general public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available, as well as ensuring key changes are communicated to them. Public information campaigns are therefore an important part of the Department’s work. Expenditure on these campaigns will vary from year to year depending on the range and number of new initiatives or required messaging.

A Communications and Customer Service Unit was established in my Department in August 2016 bringing together key customer services and functions to support an aligned and strategic approach to communications and customer service.

The Department’s public information/advertising campaigns span national and regional print media and radio, digital, social media and outdoor advertising. In addition, the Department also periodically advertises consultations and senior management vacancies in print publications. Details of all print, radio, online and outdoor advertising in the years 2014 - 2018 are detailed as follows:

*Advertising costs to end of October 2018