REVEALED: What Irish political parties splashed the most cash on election ads?

A surge of election ads around election time is not unusual, as politicians scramble to sway votes in their favour in time for election day.

The data for digital adverts has now been revealed on which political parties spent what in order to sway voters opinions ahead of, and including, June 7. 

Almost €700,000 was revealed to have been spent on digital election ads in 90 days with €512,800 of that spent by main parties.

Meta gathered the data in a publicly accessible report as part of their efforts to increase transparency in advertising.

• Sinn Féin was the biggest spender, paying out €196,000 on digital ads in 90 days
• No Sinn Féin ads highlighted local candidates, all other parties did
• €300,000 was spent on Meta ads in the week of the elections
• Over €60,000 was spent on digital ads on the day of the election alone

The analysis accounts for political party totals including ads from party accounts and ads from their MEP candidates. Local candidate ads were not included in the analysis. 

€700k+ spent by parties and MEP candidates, 90 day ad breakdown:

• Over €630,000 spent on Instagram and Facebook ads in 90 days
  
• €69,000 spent by SF, Labour, SocDems on Google/Youtube in 90 days (this does not include 100s of candidates that spent less than €50)

90 day digital ads by Party: 

• Sinn Féin €196,000
• Fine Gael €114,629
• Fianna Fáil €92,937
• Labour €45,260
• Green Party €34,753
• Social Democrats €29,221

June 7th Election day digital spend: 

• Parties spent €49,724
• €18,828 spent by  Sinn Féin/MEP Candidates
• Fine Gael outspent Sinn Féin on Facebook and Instagram ads: €15,904 compared to €11,328