Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20594/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Department of Public Expenditure and Reform makes no payment directly to any trade union. Since 1982, a small annual contribution has been made towards the operating expenses of the Civil Service General Council Staff Panel. The Staff Panel is the umbrella body for all the civil service unions who participate in the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme (C&A scheme), through which civil service industrial relations matters are handled. It performs a co-ordinating function in relation to civil service union representation at the Civil Service General Council. Details of the contributions to the Civil Service General Council Staff Panel are set out in the following table:

The Department also supports the operation of the implementation mechanism under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014. The cost of that amounted to €8,738 in 2010. In addition, under an EU Technical Assistance Programme 2000-2006, a contribution was made to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The funding was provided for training, etc. on Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the social partners (ICTU and IBEC). A total of €20,390 was paid in 2004 and €27,214 was paid in 2005.

I am aware that the Special EU Projects Body, a North/South Body established under the Good Friday Agreement, has provided EU funding to trade union organisations under the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. In relation to trade union organisations in the South, the following is the position in relation to funding provided to organisations which acted as the lead partner: