263 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department has carried out an advertising campaign to promote policies or programmes being implemented by his Department; the campaign or relevant programme; the cost of advertising in publications, broadcast advertising, outdoor advertising and any consultancy or production costs for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15285/08]

Since its establishment in June 2002 my Department has not carried out any advertising campaigns to promote policies and programmes as such. The bulk of the expenditure on advertising incurred by my Department is in respect of newspaper advertisements and advertisements in other publications such as the Phone Book and Iris Oifigiúil.

In the period in question advertisements comprised notices regarding, for example, changes in Departmental opening hours and office locations, applications for the Sports Capital programme and for the Arts and Culture Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS), requests for submissions to the Tourism Policy Review group and in relation to the Department's Irish Language Scheme. Details of the Department's expenditure on advertising and publicity can be found in the Book of Estimates which is published each year and in my Department's Annual Report, copies of which are available in the Dáil Library.