Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 738: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff in his Department on leave undertaking full-time study paid for by his Department; the number who are undertaking part-time or evening study paid for by his Department; the subject areas in which these persons are studying; the qualifications which are expected to be achieved; his plans to make best use of those qualifications upon completion of the study period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1319/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under my Department's refund of fees scheme, the costs of appropriate third level courses, which are pursued in officers' own time, are refunded on successful completion of such courses. All staff are encouraged to participate in the scheme, as the pursuit of appropriate third level qualifications enhances their personal development and assists the Department to meet its business objectives more effectively. A total of 39 officers in my Department are pursuing third level courses under the scheme in the subject areas of business, accounting, management, public administration, industrial relations, law, IT and psychology. On successful completion of their studies, five officers will be awarded postgraduate qualifications, 24 will be awarded primary degrees, seven will be awarded diplomas and three will be awarded certificates. My Department also recognises that there is a need to form a cadre of officers who are qualified academically to address the future challenges it faces and, accordingly, strategically nominates officers to pursue appropriate post graduate courses as it sees fit. Three officers are pursuing postgraduate courses, the costs of which are being met in full by my Department. One officer was successful in the interdepartmental competition organised by the Department of Finance in 2005 to select candidates to participate in the 2005-07 masters programme in public policy analysis on a full-time basis. In accordance with the terms of the programme, this officer has been granted leave with pay to attend lectures during the 2005-06 academic year. The other two officers are pursuing, on a part-time basis, the doctorate in governance offered jointly by the Institute of Public Administration, Dublin, and Queen's University, Belfast. In accordance with my Department's HR Strategy 2005-2007, every effort will be made to obtain the maximum return on investment in third level education by ensuring the best match, in the light of business needs of the Department, between the knowledge, skills and competencies of the staff member and their role in the Department.