Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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640. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the public funding supplied to trade unions and representative bodies in 2015 and 2016 from her Department, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9099/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Improved industrial relations are a key factor in enterprise development and greater expertise and professionalism in the industrial relations arena contributes to more efficient use of the State’s industrial relations and dispute resolution machinery. Ultimately, this contributes to industrial peace.

The support provided by the Department to meet costs incurred by the ICTU in the operation of the Education, Training and Advisory Service may cover up to 80% of total expenditure on the programme. Expenses covered include research, seminars/conferences, workshops and education & training programmes. The Grant is paid on foot of quarterly draw down requests from ICTU accompanied by a statement of actual expenses in the previous quarter and an estimate of expenses in the current quarter. Audited annual accounts are submitted to the Department each year along with an Independent Audit Report confirming that the activities claimed for have taken place.

*An annual grant paid to assist the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in meeting the cost of providing its “Education, Training and Advisory Service” (ETAS). The grant assists Congress in the area of policy development, the provision of education and training supports to union officials and members, and advice to affiliated unions on particular issues.