Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide data, if available, on the qualification levels (details supplied) of civil servants in his Department as of 31 December 2022; how educational attainment levels have evolved in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14632/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, requires that all professional and technical staff recruited into my Department have the necessary qualifications and experience for the posts concerned and these are specified for individual competitions. In addition, many of the administrative staff in my Department hold qualifications across QQI levels including degrees, master’s degrees and PhDs in a wide range of subjects areas.

The specific qualifications information requested by the Deputy is not available. However, I wish to advise the Deputy that it is the policy of my Department to provide continuous learning and development opportunities for all staff of the Department. As well as promoting performance and productivity gains, investment in training and development has the benefit of strengthening organisational capacity, enhancing leadership capability and stimulating and encouraging innovation.

My Department’s investment in learning and development provides for a range of training and upskilling opportunities for staff including: leadership development, financial management training, technical training for specialist staff, Health and Safety training as well as upskilling in respect of key business requirements provided through OneLearning, the new learning and development model for the Civil Service, which operates under the auspices of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

Funding is also made available for Department staff to undertake third level courses of education leading to an academic qualification, in line with the guidelines set out in Department of Finance Circular 23/2007 in this regard. In general, courses pursued undertaken are at levels 8 and above of the National Qualifications Framework. 14 staff of my Department are currently undertaking further study under this scheme.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average number of days training per grade, in his Department in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; how this compares internationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14860/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It is the policy of my Department to provide continuous learning and development opportunities for all staff of the Department. These opportunities range from "on the job" training to attendance at training courses, conferences, internal talks and to participation in formal education. As well as promoting performance and productivity gains, investment in training and development has the benefit of strengthening organisational capacity, enhancing leadership capability and stimulating and encouraging innovation.

Initially, when my Department was established, the Department of Education supported the Learning and Development needs of DFHERIS staff. Data relating to DFHERIS staff was collected as if they were Department of Education staff. During the course of 2022, the Department has developed its own induction programme and a number of initiatives tailored to DFHERIS staff needs alongside with courses provided by OneLearning (the Civil Service training services) and the Department of Education.

In 2022, over 400 training days were delivered to DFHERIS staff (including OneLearning). The Department is currently developing its data collection capacity to facilitate reporting on the nature of the differing Learning and Development events undertaken by staff of the Department.

Finally, the Deputy should note that in 2022, 14 staff availed of funding to undertake third level courses of education leading to an academic qualification in line with the guidelines set out in Department of Finance Circular 23/2007. In general, courses pursued undertaken are at levels 8 and above of the National Qualifications Framework.