Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of civil servants in his Department who have attended courses on stress management in the workplace between 2005 and 2007; if stress reduction procedures have been put in place arising from attendance at such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10596/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's records indicate that 10 staff members received stress management training during the period in question. Each attended one-day training courses, which addressed, in a practical and participative manner, a variety of relevant issues. These included understanding the nature of stress, its causes, its impact, the triggers of stress in individuals and its positive and negative effects.

My Department has seen a positive impact from attendance at these courses. The individual staff members have benefited, in particular, from the stress management and elimination techniques learned. Furthermore, the courses covered a number of practical exercises for managing and eliminating stress. I understand that these exercises have been applied at work and have proved successful.