Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [51367/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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In 2013, 23 officials of my Department received the cost of membership of professional bodies related to their professional and technical qualifications necessary for the conduct of their duties. The total cost of this to my Department was €7,870.22 for 2013 (to date), which would be an indicative annual figure. The cost of membership of certain local organisations/bodies may also be paid in respect of officials based at diplomatic missions abroad. These costs are met from official funds only in a small number of exceptional cases, where the membership provides the mission with opportunities for high-level networking with key political contacts or for promotion of Irish business, economic and cultural interests. An example of such memberships is the European Policy Centre in Brussels (annual cost €600). It is not possible within the time available to provide full information on the numbers and costs involved.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [51381/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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As part of their professional development, staff of my Department who undertake qualifying third level courses in their own time may receive financial assistance under the terms of the Refund of Fees Scheme, which is sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade strongly encourages and supports its staff in this regard, particularly where the courses are particularly relevant to the work of the Department. No financial bonuses are paid to members of staff who complete such courses.

A table setting out the expenditure on Refund of Fees for the years 2009-2013 is below.