Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 288: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff who received financial assistance to pursue courses in further or higher education in each of the past five years; the number of such staff who were subsequently re-assigned to duties appropriate to their new qualifications. [45317/09]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since the 2004-05 academic year, financial assistance has been provided by means of full or partial refund of fees to 45 members of staff, including staff of the National Museum of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland, which were part of the Department until they were established as separate legal entities in May 2005. Course fees that were fully or partially refunded can be broadly divided into the following categories - courses on subjects related specifically to the area of work of the staff member such as management training, accounting, health and safety, IT and Irish courses to assist in providing a service through Irish, as well as specific courses undertaken by staff in specialised areas of the National Museum, National Library and the National Archives; courses on subjects relevant to the work of the Department but with a wider application across the Civil Service such as Policy Analysis and Corporate Governance; and courses aimed at self-development, including interview skills. Refunds were approved in accordance with the Department's policy on training and development. Academic qualifications are one of the many factors that are taken into consideration when assigning staff to specific duties within the Department.