Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Consumers' Association of Ireland has made an application for funding for 2012 or 2013; if his Department has evaluated same; if this funding has been made available, the amount his Department allocated to the Consumers' Association of Ireland and for what purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4122/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Consumers’ Association of Ireland made an application seeking funding on 27th September 2012 to support a marketing project. A number of meetings were held with the Association to discuss the details of its application and in particular the value for money that the project would offer. Arising from these discussions, the Association provided further detailed information in relation to the project and in particular in relation to the key performance indicators that it intended to apply to the project. In the light of the further information provided by the Association, funding in the amount of €46,865 was approved to support the marketing project. As part of the agreement to provide funding support, the Association has committed to providing my Department with quarterly reports in relation to the various performance indicators identified in respect of the marketing project. No application for funding for 2013 has been received to date. As I have previously stated, it is essential that all public bodies ensure that value for money is a key consideration in any expenditure of public funds and accordingly this has been the main focus of the interaction with the Consumers’ Association of Ireland in relation to its application for funding support.