Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of financial assistance given to employees of his Department in respect of third or fourth level course fees in each of the past three years. [9056/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Civil Servants are encouraged to pursue further education during their own time in order to build and develop workplace skills and expertise. In order to foster this in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform' circular notice E109/82/97 Government Departments are permitted to meet the cost or to refund fees where the course concerned leads to:

a second or third level qualification;

are provided by a recognised educational institution or professional body;

and

are related to the official's duties or broader Civil Service functions.

My Department's expenditure on refunding fees in 2011, 2012 and 2013 was €238,786, €220,628 and €171,932 respectively.