A TD has revealed that the government and the HSE spent a total of €40m in taxpayer money on Covid-related advertising.
The figures were released by Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara on Twitter.
“The Department of the Taoiseach has spent €27.3 million to date on COVID-related TV, radio, print and online advertising, bringing the total advertising spend by the Government and the HSE to €40m,” McNamara said this week.
The Department of the Taoiseach has spent €27.3 million to date on COVID-related TV, radio, print and online advertising, bringing the total advertising spend by the Government and the HSE to €40m. https://t.co/gPJRci4F62 pic.twitter.com/rAKktksLJQ
— Michael McNamara TD (@MlMcNamaraTD) December 15, 2021
In total, the Taoiseach’s office spent €16,885,239 on Covid advertising in 2020, and €10,425,237 in 2021.
Notably, the HSE alone spent €11.75 million on Covid-related advertising, in addition to more than half a million spent by the Department of Health.
The HSE has spent €11.75 million on Covid-related advertising in addition to a €0.53m spend by the Department of Health. pic.twitter.com/iDkZNdk1NB
— Michael McNamara TD (@MlMcNamaraTD) December 3, 2021
The biggest HSE advertising expense went towards television ads, and ran the taxpayer €3.9 million.
McNamara added that the Department of Education also has spent almost half a million euro on Covid advertising.
“The same spend would have delivered HEPA filter devices to over 1500 classrooms across Ireland,” the Deputy said.
The Department of Education has spent almost half a million euro on #COVID19 advertising. The same spend would have delivered HEPA filter devices to over 1500 classrooms across Ireland. https://t.co/gPJRci4F62
— Michael McNamara TD (@MlMcNamaraTD) December 10, 2021
The Taoiseach’s office responded to the revelation by saying that the pandemic required “over fifty different information campaigns” to “ensure maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and our wider community.”