Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1173. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a breakdown of the advertising spend of his Department and agencies under the remit of his Department, by national media outlet and local newspaper outlet, for each of the years 2020 to 2022, in tabular form. [47734/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is important to note that the figures laid out below include expenditure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department's communications included a comprehensive advertising campaign across both traditional and online media channels to ensure information reached the widest public audience possible ensuring the public were informed of the latest public health guidance.

The Department's response to the COVID-19 pandemic also included Healthy Ireland communications focused on promoting the Health and Wellbeing of the public during the pandemic. The Department's Healthy Ireland communications included comprehensive advertising campaign across both traditional and online media channels to ensure information reached the widest public audience possible aimed at raising public awareness of the benefits of healthy eating, increasing physical activity, and sustaining mental wellbeing.

The Department has also carried out advertising to raise awareness for landmark new initiatives, such as the free contraception scheme; and the first National Menopause Awareness Campaign which raised awareness for gov.ie/menopause, which provides trusted information for anyone impacted by menopause in Ireland.

The figures requested are listed below:

*Regional radio stations are sold in bulk packages that span various stations and regions.

As this question also relates directly to the Health Service Executive, I have asked them to respond directly to the Deputy, as soon as possible.

Information in respect of the other bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.

The Department of Health engages the services of various agencies for the purposes of advertisement placement and reaching audiences across a range of mediums including internet, print media, radio, outdoor and TV. Payments for advertising is made to these agencies rather than directly to the media company.