Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 481: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the rates of overtime or additional allowances payable to staff who work in his Department's press office in respect of persons being on-call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29295/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 482: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amounts of [i]ex-gratia[/i] payments made to staff in his Departments press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29310/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together.

The press officer in my Department is in receipt of four hours overtime at Sunday rates per week. This is not paid in respect of periods of annual leave of duration of one week or more.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 483: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the amount of compensatory leave granted or due to be granted to staff in his Department; the individuals to whom they were granted in respect of additional attendance at work before or after normal hours of attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29325/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, in accordance with established procedures in the Civil Service, permits time off in lieu to grades which are entitled to paid overtime, generally staff up to the level of higher executive officer, where overtime is necessary and agreed in advance by management. This permits staff to avail of extra time off rather than pay for extra attendance consistent with work demands. As such arrangements are dealt with locally by line managers a central record is not kept.

Officers at assistant principal officer level and above are not entitled to paid overtime. Their salary and terms and conditions are intended to cover significant extra attendance.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 484: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the personnel files of staff in his 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 his Department will be released to third parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29340/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Personnel files of staff in my Department have not been copied or given to external parties with the exception of a small number of cases where files were referred to the Chief Medical Officer for advice or where litigation was involved. In the case of the latter, papers have been furnished in response to discovery orders by the legal representatives of either the individuals concerned or of the Department.

The personnel files of staff in my Department are securely stored and access is limited to the management advisory committee and to relevant staff in the human resources unit. Every effort is made to ensure that all concerned are fully aware of the terms of data protection legislation in regard to personal information and the need for confidentiality generally.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff in his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [29355/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Since my Department was established in June 2002, no member of staff was granted leave in excess of two months for educational purposes.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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 his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [29370/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism 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. [29385/05]

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together.

In the academic year 2004 to 2005, 25 applications for refunds of fees were made by staff in my Department in respect of courses being undertaken at night or evenings, of which, 24 were approved. Of the 24, one applicant did not pursue the course.

The value of refunds to be made by my Department in 2005 is estimated at approximately €30,000. This represents approximately 8.5% of my Department's estimated total training expenditure for the year. Lists of courses for which refunds of fees were made in the past three academic years are set out as follows:

2002-2003

National Certificate in History

Foundation Certificate in Marketing

Accuracy in Irish language

Diploma in Human Resource Management

BA in Public Administration

Genealogy course in UCD

ACCA Taxation Course

Field Ecology

European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

2003-2004

MSc in Economic Policy Studies

Diploma in Policy Analysis

BA in Humanities

Marketing Institute of Ireland, a brand management course

National Certificate in History (2nd Year)

Diploma course in Irish

MA in Archaeology and Heritage

BA in History

Certificate in Change Management

ACCA Taxation Course

Degree in Public Management

Masters in Museum Studies

2004-2005

PhD-MLit

MSc in Economic Policy Studies

BA in Humanities

ECDL

Higher Diploma in Public Management

MSc in Training and Performance

Certificate in Public Management

Diploma in Modern Irish Translation

Certificate in Management Development

MA in Archaeology and Heritage

Introduction to Psychology

Diploma in Irish

Certificate in Managing Change

Diploma in Genealogy and Family History

BSc in Information Technology

Keyboard Skills

In addition to the above, my Department provides training each year on a range of topics aimed at addressing skills deficits identified mainly through the operation of the performance management and development system. These include management, IT, quality customer service, health and safety and induction training.