Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 333: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the rates of overtime or additional allowances payable to staff who work in her Department's press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29291/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 334: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amounts of [i]ex gratia[/i] payments made to staff in her Department's press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29306/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together.

There are no additional allowances payable or ex gratia payments made to staff who work in my Department's press office. If staff are required to attend outside normal working hours they are paid overtime at the same rate as applies to all other staff in my Department. The overtime regulations for civil servants are set down by the Department of Finance.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 335: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the amount of compensatory leave granted or due to be granted to staff in her Department; the individuals to whom they were granted in respect of additional attendance at work before or after normal hours of attendance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29321/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

All grades who are entitled to overtime for attendance outside normal working hours may claim payment or leave in lieu of extra hours worked. Staff in grades to which overtime is not payable are expected to attend outside normal working hours where this is required. Every effort is made to ensure that such attendance is kept to a minimum.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 336: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if the personnel files of staff in her Department have been copied or given to external parties; if so, the safeguards which have been put in place to ensure that no personal data of any member of staff in her Department will be released to third parties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29336/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Personnel files of staff in my Department are not, as a rule, released to external parties. The only two exceptions to this rule are: first, where the chief medical officer in the Civil Service occupational health department has requested an officer's sick leave or personnel file in order to make a decision on the officer's entitlement to pay while on sick leave or on their fitness to return to work; and second, personnel files of staff may have to be copied to the Chief State Solicitor's office where an officer has instituted proceedings against the Department. In all cases, these files are delivered by hand to these offices.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 337: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of staff in her Department to whom leave of absence, or any other absence from normal duties or place of work, in excess of two months was granted for educational purposes in any year since 2002; the nature of the educational course undertaken in each case; if there are terms or conditions relating to academic achievement attached to the granting of such leave; if personnel who were granted such leave failed to complete their courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29351/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Two years' leave of absence was granted to one officer in 2003, one officer in 2004 and three officers in the current year to participate in a masters programme in public policy analysis. This programme is delivered by the IPA in association with the faculty of commerce at UCD. Each officer is required to have an honours primary degree or equivalent professional qualification to participate in the course. The officer is then required to undergo a competitive interview in the Centre for Management and Organisation Development, CMOD. During the course officers carry out evaluations in relation to departmental policies and activities. On completion of the course participants return to the Department and undertake work in public policy analysis. The officer who undertook the 2003 course has satisfactorily completed the course and returned to my Department. Before being released for the course each officer is required to sign an agreement declaring that if s/he leaves the Civil Service within two years of completing the course, s/he would refund the cost of the course and salary costs paid during release from normal working hours. Staff may also apply for a career break for educational purposes to pursue a course of their choice.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 338: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of staff who applied for a refund of course fees in respect of courses undertaken at night or evenings; the value of refunds expected to be made by her Department in 2005; the number of staff to whom approval to attend a course was granted in the last academic year but did not subsequently apply for the refund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29366/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

For the academic year 2004-05, 44 members of staff applied for refund of course fees in respect of courses undertaken at night or evening. The value of the refund for the year 2004-05 is expected to be €69,316. All staff who were granted approval to attend a course subsequently applied for a refund.