Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of his Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2018; the number of staff deployed from his Department for the week; and the cost of same. [40351/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Department did not have a stand at the National Ploughing Championships. Two members of the Department's staff, who work within the European Social Fund Managing Authority (ESF MA), attended as part of the European Commission's Representation in Ireland tent, as did their colleagues from the European Regional Development Fund Managing Authorities. The purpose of the ESF MA staff’s attendance was to increase the visibility of the role of the European Social Fund in Ireland, and to provide relevant information to members of the public. This is in line with Article 115 of the Common Provisions Regulation (EU) 1303/2013 which requires that Member States and managing authorities undertake activities to publicise “the role and achievements of cohesion policy and of the Funds through information and communications actions....”. Travel and subsistence costs amounted to €1537.94.