Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the Consumers Association of Ireland; if a subvention will be offered to the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30356/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) is a non-government, independent and non-profit organisation. The Association, which is a registered charity, is mainly funded by subscriptions from its members and by the sale of its magazine Consumer Choice .

My Department has previously provided funding to the Association to support appropriate projects to assist in enhancing the Association's capacity to represent consumers' interests. The Deputy will appreciate the importance of ensuring that value for money is the uppermost consideration when expending public money and any application from the CAI for funding must be evaluated in that context. No applications were received by my Department from the CAI in 2011 or in 2012 (to date) for funding.