P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 504: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount awarded by him to any of the organisations involved in social partnership for each of the years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the details of such payments; the amount awarded; the details of the payments by each of the agencies and bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30987/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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My Department provides support to various groups involved in social partnership.

Grants are provided towards the administrative and general expenses of a number of organisations and bodies that provide information, research or representative services in the housing area. This funding assists such organisations in the delivery of housing objectives and services. Funding is also provided through the Irish Environmental Network for ecological, environmental non-governmental organisations in respect of core activities, capacity building, research, training and participation in social partnership (the Environment Pillar of social partnership was established formally in 2009).

In addition, under the various national social partnership agreements, workplace partnership was introduced and implemented successfully in the local government sector. To assist in this process, funding was provided on an annual basis at central level to the Local Authority National Workplace Partnership Group (LANPAG) that is comprised of management, trade union and Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government representatives. The disbursement of this funding is overseen by four trustees who recommend to LANPAG funding allocations for a range of initiatives in the sector, and LANPAG in turn approves these recommendations as appropriate. The relevant accounts are audited by the local government audit service on an annual basis.

Details of the funding are set out in the following table.

*Housing funding for 2010 to be announced shortly.