90 Deputy P. J. Sheehan asked the Minister for Finance the amount awarded by him to any of the organisations involved in social partnership for each of the years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the details of such payments; the amount awarded; the details of the payments by each of the agencies and bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30988/10]

Details of the amounts awarded by my Department to organisations involved in social partnership for the years 2004 to date in 2010 are as set out in the following table.

Under an EU funded NDP/CSF Technical Assistance Operational Programme in Ireland 2000-2006, funding was provided to ICTU. The intention of the funding was to enable the public sector to manage the Public Private Partnership (PPP) process and the projects coming on-stream, to drive the process, and ensure that all the relevant players are effectively engaged, in a way that ensures the objectives of the PPP approach, including value for money and early delivery of the projects, are achieved. The Programme provided funding for training, consultancy, Public Private Partnership experts etc. to bring the Social Partners up to speed with the Public Private Partnership process.

Since 1982 and pre-dating partnership, a small annual contribution has been made towards the operating expenses of the Civil Service General Council Staff Panel which performs a co-ordinating function in relation to civil service union representation. Contributions made since 2004 are as follows:

The Special EU Programmes Body is responsible for the management of the European Union's Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE II and PEACE III) and the European Union's Cross-border Programme for Territorial Co-operation (INTERREG IIIA and IVA). The SEUPB operates under the aegis of the Department of Finance and the Department of Finance and Personnel (Northern Ireland). The programmes are jointly funded by the EU, Ireland and Northern Ireland and operate within the terms of the relevant EU legislation. Since 2004, a number of organisations involved in social partnership have received support under these programmes. The SEUPB has indicated that the following letters of offer have been made to bodies that are involved in social partnership in the south. Given the variety and diversity of projects funded by the SEUPB, it may be that other letters of offer to bodies that can be considered social partners have been made. The SEUPB is examining its records and if any other such items come to light, this information will be conveyed to the Deputy forthwith.

I am advised that no comparable payments have been made by other bodies under the aegis of my Department.