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

Question 315: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45328/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The number of staff in my Department who have received financial assistance to pursue courses in further or higher education or support to participate in post graduate educational courses in the years 2004 to 2009 inclusive is 852 people. The breakdown of this figure is as follows:

2003/2004 - 214 staff

2004/2005 - 168 staff

2005/2006 - 149 staff

2006/2007 - 106 staff

2007/2008 - 112 staff

2008/2009 - 97

One of the conditions for receiving financial assistance is that courses must be relevant to the work and policies of the Department. Staff are deployed to fill vacancies as they arise and consideration is given to matching their skills and qualifications to the requirements of the job. Furthermore staff are given the opportunity to move between jobs in order to broaden their knowledge and to enhance their experience in the Department.