Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of money spent on an annual basis on education and training of staff in 2011 and to date in 2012; the number of staff that availed of each course; if he will provide a list of the courses staff undertook and the cost of each course per person. [38481/12]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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In support of the Department’s business objectives, funding for staff development is budgeted for across three main areas – training course activity, relevant third level education and membership of professional bodies which include in their membership significant elements of function related professional development training.

In addition essential Health and Safety related training is also provided.

The Department has included staff development in its ongoing value for money initiative across all services provision and the Staff Development Unit undertook, in 2009, reviews of both training policy and procurement. In this regard costs have been reduced over recent years without compromising quality or diminishing training opportunity. The Department has developed internal expertise to facilitate a number of in-house training courses which has displaced the need to hire private consultants for this function, In addition, we operate in partnership with larger Departments to avail of economies of scale in terms of training places on commonly themed training.

In 2011 expenditure on these activities was €102,442.43. To date in 2012 expenditure is €45,774.35 and further commitments to staff development will increase this, within the allocated budget, by year end. This compares to some €154,000 in 2010 and some €265,000 in 2009

The details sought by the Deputy, as regards course and attendance and the cost per head, is in the table.