Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I have no problem with the sabbatical. I am talking about the payment to send the two people abroad. I am sorry that I do not have the figures. I had them in front of me at the last meeting but not today. I was more than surprised when I saw the costs of this. Would it be normal practice and would it be good governance by the university to send people abroad in this way? Experience and further education would be gained and they would bring it back but is this normal practice? Should those people not go on their own if they want to further their education? Should they not go under their own power and not have the university and the taxpayers of the State subsidising it? I find it strange.