Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [29290/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Each press officer is normally required to be on call one week in four, for which they receive an on-call allowance equivalent to five hours overtime at double time rates per week. Normal overtime rates also apply where late attendance is required. These rates are set down in Department of Finance circular 27-1999: first hour, no payment, next two hours, rate plus one quarter, next five hours, rate plus one half, thereafter double rate.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Taoiseach the amounts of [i]ex gratia[/i] payments made to staff 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. [29305/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ex gratia payments are not made to staff in my Department's press office.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Taoiseach the amount of compensatory leave granted or due to be granted to staff in his Department; the individuals to whom it was 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. [29320/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 207 hours compensatory leave was granted this year to six members of staff, namely, two clerical officers, one service officer and three cleaners, in respect of additional attendance at work before or after normal hours of attendance.

Where staff opt for time off in lieu, instead of extra attendance payments, the granting of time off in lieu is at the discretion of the manager concerned, having regard to the exigencies of the service.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [29335/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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No personnel files have been copied or given to external parties, nor is it the practice to do so.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [29350/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The following table details the number of staff in my Department who availed of leave of absence in excess of two months for education purposes since 2002.

The masters programme in public policy analysis is a full-time course organised by the Department of Finance. Each Department is invited to nominate a maximum of two candidates. All nominated candidates go forward to a central selection process for consideration for inclusion on the programme which is of two years' duration, involving academic study and project work in public policy evaluation.