Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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Question 558: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality 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. [22621/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that this information is not readily available and that given the significant level of detail required and the timeframe involved, the collation of such information would require a disproportionate use of available resources.

However I can inform the Deputy that in the period since I took up office, from 9 March 2011 to date, the following payments have been made to trade unions:

The Equality Authority

1. €2,000 - this was paid to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) for an equality training project. The project entitled the "Congress Equality Mainstreaming" was funded under the Equality Mainstreaming Approach Programme.

2. €1,275 - this was paid to ICTU for exhibition space at the 2009 ICTU Biannual Delegates Conference.

3. €200 - this was paid to the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) for a stand at the 2011 ASTI annual conference.

An Garda Síochána

1. €18,707 -this was paid to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors for rent and service charges.

2. €58,000 -this was paid to the Association of Chief Superintendents as an annual subvention.