Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount expended by her Department on advertising and awareness raising initiatives related to Covid-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021; the print, online and broadcasting media organisations contracted to provide this service; the amount provided to each in the timeframe concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24935/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department delivered 21 public information campaigns related to COVID-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021. The aim of these campaigns was to increase public awareness of the available income supports and the Department’s relevant schemes and services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 public information campaigns in 2020 and 2021 included national and regional print publications, national and regional radio, as well as targeted digital and social media advertising.

The full cost of COVID-19 related public information campaigns from March 2020 to date was €2,165,169.06, excluding VAT, ASAI, agency fees and creative/design costs.

One of these public information campaigns is currently running and has not yet been invoiced.

All public information campaigns are developed and targeted carefully in collaboration with our media buyer using the best mix of media formats to ensure that the Department’s messages reach members of the public effectively, while ensuring value for money.

The Department works with a media buying agency, appointed under an OGP framework, in order to plan and buy advertising effectively and has contracted two companies to provide this service during 2020 and 2021: MEC/Wavemaker Global and Mediavest Ltd. t/a Sparkfoundry.

During the period March 2020 to October 2020 MEC/Wavemaker Global was contracted to provide this service and €1,588,330.93 was the amount provided for COVID-19 campaigns.

From October 2020 Spark Foundry is contracted to provide this service and to date €576,838.13 is the amount provided for COVID-19 campaigns.

The figures outlined above are excluding VAT, ASAI, and agency fees and are those which have been invoiced to date 10 May 2021. Additional invoices are still due on one ongoing campaign.