Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 515: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [29296/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are no additional allowances paid to staff in my Department's press office in respect of persons being on call and, or for their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours. Overtime is paid to the staff of the press office in accordance with standard Civil Service conditions and rates, as per circular 27/99.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 516: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [29311/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are no ex gratia payments made to staff in my Department's press office in respect of persons being on call and/or for their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 517: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [29326/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Compensatory leave is granted to staff in my Department in respect of sanctioned early morning duties and sanctioned overtime. Responsibility for the management of compensatory leave in my Department has been devolved to local line management. It is the policy of my Department not to release information in respect of individual staff records.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [29341/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Staff in the personnel unit of my Department are aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act in respect of the maintenance and disclosure of personnel data.

It is not the practice of personnel unit to give personnel files of staff to external parties. However, when required for legal cases, personnel files have been copied for the Chief State's Solicitor's Office. In addition, personnel data is occasionally sent to the chief medical officer when medical advice is sought. Such documents are forwarded in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 519: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [29356/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2002 seven people in my Department have been granted leave in excess of two months for educational purposes.

One officer is currently undertaking the masters programme in public policy analysis. The programme is a two-year full time programme involving academic study and projects in public policy evaluation. Upon successful completion of the programme, the officer will return to my Department on promotion and will work in public policy analysis. If this officer leaves the Civil Service within two years of completing the course, the officer will refund all costs associated with the course.

A total of six staff in my Department have availed of unpaid leave for study purposes under the Department of Finance circular 18/98 — special leave without pay for career breaks. These applications are detailed below:

Once staff members meet the eligibility criteria under the career break scheme, no further terms or conditions relating to academic achievement are attached by my Department, to the granting of such unpaid leave. Staff members concerned are not required to provide any further details in respect of their planned educational course.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [29371/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department's refund of fees scheme, the costs of appropriate third level courses, which are pursued in an officer's own time, are refunded on successful completion of such courses. Staff are encouraged to participate in the scheme as it enhances their personal development while assisting the Department to meet its business objectives.

Of 45 applications approved under the scheme in respect of the academic year 2004-05, eight staff did not seek a refund. It is expected that the value of refunds made in my Department in 2005 will be €94,909.