Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [29365/05]

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [29380/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.

The information sought by the Deputy about the proportion of the training budget spent and details of courses funded by the Department of the Taoiseach in the last three years is set out in the following table.

The Department of the Taoiseach continues to work towards the target of 4% of payroll being spent on training and development as committed to in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness and Sustaining Progress. The Department of the Taoiseach is committed to ensuring that every member of staff has the opportunity to develop the competencies required to meet work objectives, thus contributing to meeting the Department's goals and objectives, now and in the future, and to further personal and career development goals at each stage of the work life cycle from induction to retirement.

In compliance with circular 21-78, third level courses of education, all courses funded in the Department of the Taoiseach are accepted as relevant to employment in the Civil Service generally. To be eligible for a refund of course fees, each person is required to sign a necessary form of undertaking. Therefore, he or she is committed to reimbursing, in full, to the Department of the Taoiseach, the amount paid in respect of their academic studies if he or she discontinues the course or if he or she leaves the Civil Service without having worked a period equal to the duration of the course following its completion.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [29395/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The total amount spent on briefcases by my Department since June 2002 is €836.81. No refunds were made to staff in respect of purchases of briefcases. Six staff members have received briefcases. The largest single amount paid for a briefcase was €173.51.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Taoiseach 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. [29410/05]

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are 47 personal digital assistants, PDAs, allocated to staff in my Department. The costs of the devices vary depending on the model. The most expensive device cost €474.74 but was purchased in 1999. As with other IT equipment, costs have decreased significantly over the years. The most recent device purchased cost €198.44. Expenditure on PDAs in my Department over recent years is shown in the following table.

Details of the grades to which PDAs are allocated within my Department are listed in the following table. All requests for the allocation of a PDA must be supported by a business case outlining the reasons why a device is required. They are then submitted to the head of corporate affairs for a decision on whether to approve the request.