Written Answers Nos. 350-351
350. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if any website or other platform operated by his Department uses an AI-enabled chatbot; if there are plans to use chatbots; in what circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4841/26]
View answerMy Department's ICT managed service is provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). As part of this service, my Department's website, www.gov.ie/drcdg, is hosted on the gov.ie family of government websites with the underlying infrastructure and technical environment for the platform provided by the OGCIO
I can confirm that Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) enabled chatbots are not currently employed on my Department’s website or any other platform operated by my Department.
I am informed, however, that the OGCIO is developing AI-enabled chatbot technology for integration with the gov.ie platform. This initiative aims to provide members of the public with accessible, real-time support with government services and information in line with the Digital Public Services Plan 2030 (www.gov.ie/en/de). A public beta test of the gov.ie chatbot is planned for the first quarter of this year.
351. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total sums spent for each year from 2016 to 2025, inclusive of advertising, by his Department on social media or online platforms, including identifying separately payments to influencers on such platforms; and to set out the annual totals for that period to each specific platform, including but not limited to major platforms (details supplied). [4860/26]
View answerThe use of social media platforms are an integral part of most awareness and advertising campaigns, and as such my Department does incur costs related to this. Expenditure on these platforms is carefully managed. It should be noted that the increased costs for 2024 and 2025 relate to national public awareness campaigns on responsible dog ownership and regulations relating to ownership of XL Bully type dogs. These dog control related functions have since transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The table below details the information requested by the Deputy. In some instances it is not possible to disaggregate for online expenditure given the nature of contract and the structure of the companies involved. As my Department was established on 19th July 2017, the information provided commences on that date. I can confirm that there were no payments to influencers on such platforms.
|
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Twitter / X |
Nil |
Nil |
€6,754 |
€167 |
€4,799 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
|
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€26,190 |
€16, 242 |
|
|
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Figure above represent expenditure on Meta which includes Facebook and Instagram |
Figure above represent expenditure on Meta which includes Facebook and Instagram |
|
TikTok |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€5,535 |
€6,222 |
|
YouTube |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€16,238 |
|
|
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€11,081 |
€1,230 |
|
SnapChat |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€5,947 |
|
|
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€8,271 (Google, Meta and Youtube) |
€4,931 |
€1,232 |
