Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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465. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of officials in his Department that are receiving the cost of club membership fees, including sports clubs and professional bodies, as part of their contract of employment; the total cost per year to his Department of paying these fees [51373/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department does not pay any membership fees on behalf of its officials for sports club or indeed any club membership.   

The Department, however does pay membership fees for some staff for membership of professional bodies associated with their duties.  Some examples of these bodies are:

- Engineers Ireland;

- Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors;

- Institute of Marine Engineering.

As this information is not kept in a central location, I have requested my officials to collate the information requested and forward it directly.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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466. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department is paying for any of its employees to receive third level qualifications; if so, the annual cost for each of the past five years; if the employee will receive a financial bonus as a result of receiving this qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51387/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department provides funding for staff members undertaking third level studies under the Third Level Refund of Fees Scheme. The funding is dependent on the applicant making a case that the course in question is relevant to their work and their professional development.  Refunds are made on the basis of applicants achieving success in course exams.   

The amounts paid out under this scheme over the past 5 years are:

No financial bonus is given to staff who attain qualifications under this scheme.