Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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373. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit facilitate internships by students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses; if so, the number of interns his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit accept annually; if any or all of these interns receive remuneration of any kind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20017/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The table below sets out the number of  students interns that have worked in my Department in the  years 2018 to 2021: 

Student interns are remunerated at the first point of the Clerical Officer payscale.

My Department has facilitated internships, both in partnership with third-level institutions and with individual students engaged in full-time or part-time further and higher education courses. Partnership arrangements with third-level institutions were suspended during the period of the pandemic when the majority of Department staff were working remotely. My Department  however, continued to support internships on an ad-hoc basis where business needs were identified during this period.

My Department is currently considering proposals in regard to the reintroduction of the partnership arrangement with third-level institutions.  

I have asked the aegis bodies to respond directly to you on this matter and if you do not hear from them within 10 days you should contact my office.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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375. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons currently employed in his Department who have been seconded in from the public sector; the number of Departmental officials seconded where the monies are recouped from the body the person is seconded to or where the Department pays for the person with no recoupment from the other organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20071/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There are a number of staff on secondment to agencies under the remit of my Department, including the Marine Casualty Investigation Board, strengthening links between the Department and its agencies. There are also several staff seconded to other Government Departments including the Department of Foreign Affairs to staff our Permanent Representation in Brussels and a small number of staff are seconded as national experts to the EU Commission. These EU Commission posts allow the department to have input into EU policy and legislative proposals.

The duration of staff secondments to other Government Departments vary as they may be terminated at relatively short notice, or extended, by agreement with the other Department and the staff member concerned. In accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform rules, during periods of secondment, staff maintain their terms and conditions of employment including their civil service grade and when the secondment period ends they return to the Department at that grade.

The following tables set out details by grade and institution or body of staff currently on secondment from and into my Department.

Staff seconded into the Department

Staff seconded out by the Department