Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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200. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51361/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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In supporting Continuing Professional Development my Department recognises the value of membership of professional bodies in the context of keeping pace with the latest professional standards and practices. Accordingly, where such membership is necessary for the performance of official duties or is otherwise beneficial to the work of my Department, through access to research papers or training for example, such membership fees are reimbursed to officials.

The number of officials and the cost of such reimbursements for my Department in 2012 were 32 and €8,297 respectively. The corresponding figures for the year 2013 to date are 30 and €8,018 respectively.

My Department does not incur any costs in relation to sports or other club membership fees.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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201. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht 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. [51375/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises the importance of educational study in supporting the development of skills and expertise for workplace performance, and in promoting the concepts of self-development and life-long learning.

The annual cost of supporting third-level academic courses and programmes of study being undertaken by my officials under my Department’s Payment and Refund of Educational Fees Scheme, since the establishment of my Department in June 2011, is set out in tabular form. The officials of my Department do not receive any financial bonuses for completing such courses of study.