Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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570. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on social media by her Department in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the projected spend in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53989/18]

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.

The Department’s public information and advertising campaigns span national and regional print media and radio, outdoor and social media advertising channels. Expenditure on these channels will vary from year to year depending on the range and number of new initiatives or required messaging. As such, it is not possible to supply a figure for projected social media advertising spend in 2019.

Details of spend on social media advertising in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 are detailed below:

* Social media advertising costs until 17 December 2018

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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571. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on marketing and media by her Department in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the projected spend in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54006/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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For the purpose of this response, I have interpreted “the amount spent on marketing and media” as media buying costs incurred from public information campaigns, announcements and senior management vacancy notices.

My Department is committed to ensuring that members of the general public are aware of the welfare supports and services that are available to them and that they are notified of any scheme changes, which may affect them. Public information campaigns are targeted using the best mix of media formats to ensure that the Department’s messages reach target customers effectively.

The Department’s public information campaigns span national and regional print media, radio, outdoor formats, and social media advertising channels. Expenditure on these channels will vary from year to year depending on the range and number of new initiatives or required messaging. As such, it is not possible to supply a figure for projected spend in 2019.

All advertising expenditure undertaken by the Department is tendered for in accordance with Government and EU procurement guidelines, including use of framework agreements from the Office of Government Procurement.

Total advertising expenditure in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to date are set out in the table which follows.

*Invoiced to 14 December 2018