Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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527. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent on social media by his Department in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the projected spend in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53996/18]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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528. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent on marketing and media by his Department in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the projected spend in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54013/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.

The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. As my Department was established on 19th July 2017, the information provided commences on that date and includes the remainder of 2017 and spending to date in 2018.

*My Department hosted a joint exhibit with the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht at the Ploughing Championships in 2017 and 2018. In 2017 the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht was the lead exhibitor and therefore incurred the higher percentage of costs. In 2018, my Department was the lead exhibitor and incurred the higher percentage of costs.

In terms of projected spend in 2019, my Department is preparing a communications strategy which will govern our internal and external communications priorities for next year. Any decisions in relation to spending on media and other communication channels will be met within existing allocations.