Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [29297/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [29312/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 541 and 542 together.

There are no special on-call allowances or ex-gratia payments paid to staff working in my Department's press office. The staff in question are paid at standard Civil Service rates appropriate to their grade. In instances where additional attendance, outside normal office hours, is required staff may be paid overtime in accordance with standard Civil Service regulations. On occasions where attendance at a centre other than the press office is required, travel and subsistence allowances may also be paid, if appropriate.

The standard arrangements in respect of extra attendance for the grades in question are as follows: for staff up to executive officer level the following rates apply: first three hours — rate plus one-quarter or time off in lieu at flat rate; next five hours — rate plus one-half or time off in lieu at flat rate; and thereafter — double rate or time off in lieu at flat rate.

For staff at higher executive officer level the following rates apply: first hour — no payment or time off in lieu; next two hours — rate plus one-quarter or time off in lieu at flat rate; next five hours — rate plus one-half or time off in lieu at flat rate; and thereafter — double rate or time off in lieu at flat rate.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [29327/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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It is assumed the question refers to the practice of allowing time off in lieu, TOIL, of paid overtime for staff on certain occasions where staff are in attendance beyond normal hours.

In my Department, compensatory leave may be granted, in the form of time off in lieu of payment for extra attendance outside normal hours for staff up to and including the grade of higher executive officer-administrative officer. Any such agreement is generally agreed in advance of the extra attendance performed and has to have regard to the work demands of the relevant sections within the Department.

The granting and control of compensatory leave in lieu of overtime worked is generally a matter for local management. Figures are not compiled in such a manner as to facilitate central reporting.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 544: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [29342/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The holding and use of personal information is governed by the Data Protection Act 1988 and the Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003. On entering the Department, all staff members sign up to the terms of these Acts and staff with particular access to personnel files are briefed on the confidentiality of the nature of their work.

All personnel files in my Department are safely and securely maintained in the personnel unit. Personnel staff are aware of the requirement not to divulge any personal information from these files to any external party without express instructions to do so from the personnel officer or from the individual staff member involved.

In considering matters relating to sick leave, an employee's personal sick leave details may be passed to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer for the Civil Service for advice in the normal course of events.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [29357/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the career break scheme for Civil Servants, a total of ten staff in my Department have availed of unpaid leave to pursue a course of study in their own time since 2002, as follows: 2002, one; 2003, one; 2004, three; and 2005, five.

A career break can be taken for a number of reasons, one of which is educational, and there are no terms or conditions relating to academic achievement pertaining to it. A career break can be taken for a minimum of six months and up to a maximum of five years duration.

In addition, a Civil Service wide confined competition for the selection of candidates at higher executive officer-administrative officer level to avail of leave of absence to participate in a Master's programme in public policy analysis was re-initiated in 2003.

The programme is a two year full time programme which is delivered by the Institute of Public Administration in association with the Faculty of Commerce, UCD. It involves academic study and the completion of a major evaluation project under supervision.

Candidates who are allocated a place on the programme are paid at the level of assistant principal and, upon successful completion of the programme, they are offered promotion to assistant principal and will generally undertake work in public policy analysis.

With effect from 2005, there is also provision for the selection of existing assistant principal officers or equivalent grades to participate in the programme. Again, upon successful completion of the programme, they will generally be assigned to work in public policy analysis.

Since 2003, the number of staff in my Department who have availed of leave of absence under the above programme is as follows; 2003, one; 2004, two; and 2005, three. The staff member in my Department who has so far completed the Master's programme has done so successfully.