Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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201. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment if professional fees are paid by his Department on behalf of employees; if so, the total number involved; and the amount of each fee. [42698/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Professional fees are paid in my Department in line with Circular 47/2001: Reimbursement of Professional Membership Fees. The reimbursement of fees are initially paid, where there is a mandatory condition for appointment to the role advertised during the recruitment campaign.

In an effort to ensure the highest level of professionalism in certain areas of the Department and as part of strategic talent management, the continuation of the reimbursement of professional fees for certain staff is sustained during their career while they remain in their professional posting.  This ensures that the officials in my Department have access to up-to-date information, case law, networks, latest business thinking and best practices in the market.

The reimbursement of professional fees in my Department relates to functions including the legal profession, accountants, auditors, HR and professional expertise in other areas of the corporate function. The latter supports my Department’s implementation of the Civil Service wide People Strategy.

The process involves the submission of a business case, supported by the line manager and approved by the HR Unit in line with Circular 47/2001.  The table below sets out the detail of 7 officials who have been approved for reimbursement of professional fees to date in 2020: