Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of people who have completed the IPA Masters degree course in policy analysis in each of the past five years; the average cost to the taxpayer of facilitating each member of staff in completing these courses; when the Government will have enough policy analysts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13029/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Master of Economic Science in Policy Analysis is a two year full time programme delivered by the IPA in conjunction with UCD and is one of a number of measures in place to enhance public policy analysis capability in the civil service. It was commissioned by the Civil Service Training and Development Centre in 2003 and commenced in the academic year 2003/2004. To date 33 students have successfully graduated (16 in 2005 and 17 in 2006). There are 25 students in the final year of the 2005 -2007 cycle of the programme. The current average cost per student for the time away from work is approximately €65,000.

Policy analysis and evaluation are core activities in the work of Departments/Offices. Apart from this specific programme, there is also a separate course and a separate higher diploma programme aimed at improving the policy analysis capability of public servants. I am satisfied that this variety of measures will continue to be needed to provide the general level of capability required in this area.