Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Finance the proportion of his Department's training budget that is spent on refunds to staff in respect of night-time or weekend study courses; the list of all courses funded by his Department in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29382/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

The following is a list of all courses funded by my Department, under the refund of fees scheme, for the academic years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05: masters in economic science; MA in public management; masters in business administration; MBS in human resource strategies; masters in science in nursing — staff member of the office of the chief medical officer; barrister-at-law degree; BA in public management; BA in business studies; BA in business management, HRM; BA in industrial relations and human resource management; BA in marketing; BA in training and education; BA in humanities; bachelor of business studies; BSc in business and information technology; BSc human resource management; BSc in information and technology; BSc in computing science; bachelor in maths/analytical science; bachelor of nursing studies — staff member of the office of chief medical officer; bachelor of arts; association of chartered certified accountants; institute of certified public accountants; institute of accounting technicians in Ireland; higher diploma in computer studies; advanced diploma in pc applications; diploma in public management; diploma in human resource management; diploma in legal studies; diploma in public relations; diploma in information systems management; diploma in counselling; diploma course in applied Irish; diploma in first line management; diploma in web design; certificate in finance; certificate in public management; CompTIAA and computer technician course; qualification in computer audit; certificate in supervisory management; certificate in civil service and state agency studies; ECDL; Spanish language course; and leaving certificate.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount spent by his Department on briefcases; the amount refunded to staff in his Department in respect of purchases of briefcases; the number of staff who have received briefcases; the number of staff who have received refunds for briefcases they purchased; the largest single amount paid or refunded in respect of one briefcase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29397/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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In the past three years, my Department has purchased 31 briefcases at a cost of €1,370. Fourteen briefcases were allocated to members of staff who use a briefcase on a regular basis. The remaining briefcases are available for short-term use by staff. In the same period €55 was refunded to one member of staff in respect of a purchase of a briefcase. The largest amount paid for one briefcase was €143. All briefcases purchased or paid for by my Department remain the property of the Department and are allocated to staff for official business use.

If the Deputy wishes to bring to my attention, by way of representations from him, the names and addresses of any briefcase manufacturers he has a particular interest in, I can bring it to the attention of the relevant departmental officials concerned.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 396: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of personal digital assistants provided to staff in his Department; the cost of same; the cost of the most expensive personal digital assistant purchased to date; the grades to which these devices are issued; if personal digital assistants are issued as a matter of course or are subject to preparation of a business case which is subsequently scrutinised; if so, by whom the final decision on allocation of personal digital assistants is made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29412/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has provided five personal digital assistants to staff in my department. The total cost of these five personal digital assistants is €2,341, the most expensive being €526. These items are provided to senior management, principal officer or above, and my Department has a stringent policy and set procedure for the requesting of these items. Each request is scrutinised and approved on the basis of work necessity. The final decision in each case was made by the principal officer in charge of the IT unit.