Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff in his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31237/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department places considerable emphasis on relevant skills development by staff at all levels.  It offers on-going training programmes for staff, based on business requirements identified through the business planning mechanism and the performance management development system.  Under the Refund of Educational Fees Scheme, which operates on an annual basis, staff members can develop specific critical skills through a number of formal education programmes offered by 3^rd level institutions.

In accordance with the provisions of Department of Finance Circular 23 /200 7 , staff pursuing appropriate courses mayavail of paid study leave. In 2012, 45 staff availed of suchleave with an average duration of 1.94 days. To date in 2013, 22 staff have availed of study leave withan average duration of 1.75 days. In addition to the formal courses outlined above there are a number of short-term external and in-house training sessions provided for staff, which are held during business hours.