Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 263: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of certified and uncertified sick days taken by his Department in each year over the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45771/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the tabular statement. Details of sick leave of officials at the Department of Education & Science 2005 to 2007.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the number of teachers participating in in-service training and courses has reduced from a high in 2006 of 217,816 hours to 108,787 hours in 2008 in terms of the total in-service attendance; the further reason there has been such a reduction in the number of hours provided by his Department for in-service training and attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45776/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As stated in the response to the previous question from Deputy Hayes in relation to inservice participants, the figure used by the Deputy for 2008 refers to the number of participant days up to the 31/08/08 rather than the number of hours of inservice. The full year figure will obviously be much higher than this. In service participants will however be lower in 2008 than 2006 and this can be put down to two main factors:

(1) The former Primary Curriculum Support Programme has completed its intensive phase of inservice following the introduction of the revised primary curriculum. As part of the schedule of support for the revised curriculum which began in 1999 and was completed in 2007, subject areas were catered for annually with up to six days per year for whole staff training. From September 2008, the first steps were taken toward the creation of a cohesive single professional development support service for the primary sector. The new service, while continuing to provide professional development programmes in response to system priorities, will be primarily concerned with the provision of customised support to schools and teachers.

(2) In 2008, due to Easter falling early there was a much shorter first term than usual. As in service seminars generally don't take place in the third term, after Easter, this will contribute to a reduction in overall numbers for 2008.