asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the name of any newspaper or periodical which received Government advertising in any of the three years 1954/5, 1955/6, or 1956/7 as indicated in a reply of 28th May, 1957, and which did not receive any such advertising in either of the years 1957/58 or 1958/59; why such newspaper or periodical was omitted; the name of any newspaper or periodical in which Government advertising appeared in either of the years 1957/58 or 1958/59, and which did not receive such advertising in any of the years 1954 to 1957; and the amount paid to each such newspaper or periodical.
Written Answers. - Government Advertising.
52.
As indicated in the reply which I gave to the question asked by Deputy O'Malley on 3rd March, 1959, Departments when placing advertisements make their selection from among newspapers and periodicals according as they judge that their requirements as regards coverage can most adequately and economically be satisfied.
As will be seen from my reply to Deputy Moloney's question of 28th May, 1957, advertising is placed by Government Departments in a very large number of newspapers and periodicals. The special investigation that would be necessary to obtain the particulars asked for by the Deputy would require an extensive check and an expenditure of time and labour which I could not regard as justifiable.
In 1955 it was decided that Government advertising should not be placed with newspapers which did not furnish circulation figures. Seven provincial newspapers were affected and were excluded from Government advertising generally. Three of the papers subsequently furnished circulation figures and were again accepted for advertising. Apart from this instance, there is no general directive to Departments regarding the selection of papers and periodicals for advertising.