Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of associations, organisations and regulatory bodies in receipt of grants, benefit in kind and sums of money from the State in tabular form for the past three years; if he is satisfied that the State should be financing such organisations; if he will undertake to examine the savings that can be made in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28919/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Details of specific payments of the nature referred to by the Deputy for the three years from 2009 to 2011 are set out in the following tables.

2011

2010

2009

Payments to the Tyndall National Institute were reviewed in 2011, in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. The level of future payments to the Institute will be subject to further examination in the context of the annual estimates process. Funding in relation to Consumers' Association of Ireland is currently being reviewed.

As regards the payment to the Independent Workers Union, this is paid in accordance with the objectives of the Trade Union Act 1975, which is designed to facilitate amalgamations and transfers of undertakings among trade unions by simplifying merger procedures. In this context, grants are available from the Exchequer to meet the costs incurred by unions in this process.

In relation to the payments to Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), an annual grant is paid to assist ICTU in meeting the cost of providing its Education, Training and Advisory Service (ETAS). The grant-in-aid assists Congress in the area of policy development, the provision of education and training supports to union officials and members, and advice to affiliated unions on particular issues. Between 2008 and 2011, there had been a phased reduction in the level of the Grant provided to ICTU for ETAS.

The Department has decided to switch the focus of the allocation to ICTU towards a performance-based recurrent funding system for ETAS, whereby ICTU's educational and advisory services would receive continued funding if they meet specified agreed reporting requirements.

The National Irish Safety Organisation is a voluntary not-for-profit body dedicated to the promotion of, and training in, occupational health and safety in Irish workplaces. The development of the course was supported by the Health and Safety Authority. This was a once off payment and therefore there is no need for a review of this funding.

Details of the financial allocations provided to the Offices and Agencies of my Department are provided in the list of Voted expenditure for the Department as set out in the Revised Estimates Volume.

The Offices of my Department are as follows:

· Companies Registration Office,

· Office of the Registrar of Friendly Societies,

· Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement,

· Patents Office,

· Employment Appeals Tribunal,

· Labour Relations Commission, and

· Labour Court.

The Agencies of my Department are as follows:

· Forfás,

· Enterprise Ireland,

· IDA Ireland,

· Shannon Development,

· City and County Enterprise Boards (35),

· Science Foundation Ireland,

· InterTrade Ireland,

· Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority,

· the Competition Authority,

· National Consumer Agency,

· Personal Injuries Assessment Board,

· National Employment Rights Authority,

· National Standards Authority of Ireland, and

· Health and Safety Authority.