Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 December 2013
133. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of officials in his Department who receive 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. [51368/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraContracts and terms and conditions for all officials of the Department are as agreed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
There are no officials in my Department receiving the cost of club membership fees as part of their contract of employment.
Subject to budgetary constraints, professional membership fees may be paid by the Department to a professional body or affiliation fee to an affiliation group for a member of staff where the staff member concerned is serving in a grade for which entry to the grade is contingent on valid membership of a specified professional body/affiliation group, for example professionally qualified accountants. Professional/affiliation fees may also be paid where the work of a staff member directly relates to the activities of the professional body and there is a consequential benefit to the Department, therefore, arising from membership.
For 2013 the total amount paid in professional/affiliation fees was just under €1,700.
