Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 602: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of staff who applied for a refund of course fees in respect of courses undertaken at night; 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. [29374/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 603: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the proportion of his Department's training budget that is spent on refunds to staff in respect of evening 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. [29389/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 602 and 603 together.

The number of staff in my Department who have applied for a refund of course fees in respect of courses undertaken at night or at weekends in the current academic year is 58. The value of such refunds is estimated at €80,262. All staff members to whom approval to attend a course in the last academic year was granted subsequently applied for the refund of their course fees.

The proportion of my Departments training budget spent on refunds to staff in respect of evening or weekend courses was 30.7% in 2005, 31% in 2004 and 11% in 2003. A list of courses for which staff were refunded fees is set out as follows:

"A+", ICT Training

ACCA Annual Subscription

Arts Modular

BA (Honours) Business & Law Griffith College

BA (Ordinary) Legal Studies

BA Degree Training & Education — Year 4 of 4

BA Psychology (Dublin Business School)

BA Public Management Business Studies

BA Training & Education Year 3 2004 2005

Basic Computers

Certificate in Business Studies (IPA)

Challenge of the Social Sciences — Open University

Communications (UCD)

Degree in Psychology — Open University

Dioplóma Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach Bliain 2 UCD

Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge

Dioplóma sna Dána (Scileanna Aistriúcháin)

Diploma in Business (NCI) — Year 1 of 2

Diploma in Communications (UCC)

Diploma in First Line Management — NCI

Diploma in Policy Analysis (IPA)

Diploma in Public Administration (IPA)

Diploma in Public Management (IPA)

Doctorate in Governance (D Gov) IPA/QUB

Doctorate in Governance (IPA/QUB)

Doctorate in Governance (IPA/QUB)

ECDL 28 October ABM Computer Training

ECDL, Galway Technical Institute

Gaeilge — Conradh na Gaeilge

Gaeilge — Gaeleagras

Higher Certificate in Business & Industrial Relations/HRM-IFSC

Internal Audit (IPA)

Irish Art & Its Contents, TCD 11-10-04-28-02-05

Irish Literature — Irish Writers' Centre

Italian, Level 1, Oct 03-Jan 04, Sandford Lang Institute

Joint Examining Board

Legal Studies

LLB Degree

LLB Degree (Evening)

M.Sc Policy Analysis (IPA)

MA (IPA)

MA Bilingualism (DCU)

MA Gaeilge UCD 2003/2004

MA Nua Ghaeilge

MA Public Management, IPA

MSc I nGnó/I dTeicneolaíocht an Eolais 2002-03

NUI Certificate in Psychology

Office Technology

Philosophy — Foundation Modular (UCD)

Psychology — Certificate, NUI Maynooth

Public Management, IPA CMOD Code 2

SafePass (FÁS)

Spanish Course, Instituto De Cervantes

Spanish, Aisling Ireland, 137 Lr Rathmines Rd

Swedish Language Course

Teastas sa Chleachtas Dá-Theangach (DCU)

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 604: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [29404/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Records indicate that the total amount spent on four briefcases since the establishment of my Department in 2002 is €534.82. The largest single amount paid was €242. This figure includes a sum of €86.94 in respect of a briefcase which was purchased to replace a briefcase destroyed when the ministerial car was involved in an accident and went on fire. The original briefcase was purchased during the previous Administration long before the establishment of this Department.

The cost of replying to this parliamentary question exceeds the cost of providing briefcases to staff in my Department during the last three years.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 605: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs 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. [29419/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Three electronic portable devices were purchased in 2003 at a cost of €992 each for the three most senior posts in my Department. In 2005, ten devices were purchased at a cost of €242 each and were rolled out to some senior staff within my Department as part of a trial project to examine the benefits of such devices. Further decisions on wider provision of personal digital assistants will be informed by the experience of the trial project.