Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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325. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [51360/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department pays no club membership fees to any member of staff. It does, however, pay registration fees to the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) in respect of veterinary staff employed by my Department. Such staff must, in the context of their contracts of employment with my Department, be registered in the Veterinary Council of Ireland’s Register of Veterinary Practitioners and may not engage in private practice or be connected with any outside business which would interfere with the performance of official duties.

A total of €126,450 in respect of veterinary registration fees amounting to €450 per staff member was paid by my Department to the Veterinary Council of Ireland. My Department also pays professional membership fees to other professional bodies in respect of a number of professional grades in my Department, where such membership provides access to documentation or training relevant to the profession. A sum of €3,364 has been paid on foot of these memberships this year to date.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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326. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. [51374/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Staff in my Department may apply to participate in the Civil Service wide Refund of Academic Fees Scheme and are funded provided the course they are undertaking is relevant to their role. In certain circumstances, where a critical knowledge gap has been identified, staff members may also be requested to pursue a third level qualification funded by my Department. Staff do not receive any financial bonus as a result of attaining qualifications under this scheme. The cost of the scheme over the past 5 years is as follows.