Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of officials in his Department who 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51368/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Contracts and terms and conditions for all officials of the Department are as agreed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

There are no officials in my Department receiving the cost of club membership fees as part of their contract of employment.

Subject to budgetary constraints, professional membership fees may be paid by the Department to a professional body or affiliation fee to an affiliation group for a member of staff where the staff member concerned is serving in a grade for which entry to the grade is contingent on valid membership of a specified professional body/affiliation group, for example professionally qualified accountants. Professional/affiliation fees may also be paid where the work of a staff member directly relates to the activities of the professional body and there is a consequential benefit to the Department, therefore, arising from membership.

For 2013 the total amount paid in professional/affiliation fees was just under €1,700.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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134. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation 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. [51382/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Expenditure by my Department on course fees for staff participation in business relevant courses leading to third-level qualifications in the years 2009-2013 is outlined below. No financial bonuses are paid to staff as a result of receiving qualifications on successful completion of these courses. These courses are pursued by staff primarily in their own time.

Examples of courses which were supported in recent years include Public Administration/Management; Business Studies/Management; Information Technology; Accountancy/Financial Management; Law; Project Management and Economic Policy Analysis. Meeting the costs of such business-related courses of study recognises that the staff of the Department are our single greatest resource. It is essential, therefore, for the effective delivery of our strategic mission that they are well qualified for the tasks with which they are charged.