1995. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount his Department and Departmental agencies have spent in 2025 and to date in 2026 on social media and web advertising; the proportion this is of his Department's advertising budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60924/26]

My Department is committed to ensuring that members of the 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.

For the purpose of this response, spending on advertising has been interpreted as social media and online (digital) media buying costs incurred in the delivery of public information campaigns, announcements and recruitment notices funded by my Department and Departmental agencies. Online (digital) media advertising includes digital audio, digital video-on-demand advertising and Google advertising.

The Department does not have a dedicated advertising/media buying budget. Expenditure on advertising forms part of the Department's overall communications budget and spend is based on policy and programme priorities as well as customer needs. Accordingly, the table below sets out the total spend on social media and online (digital) media advertising in 2025 and to date in 2026 of the Department and Departmental agencies. Please note that these figures exclude VAT, ASAI, and agency fees.

* Expenditure on social media advertising and online (digital) advertising is up to date as of 31 August 2026.

** As a newly established body under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection, the National Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings Authority did not have any expenditure on social media and online (digital) advertising in 2025.