Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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532. To ask the Minister for Health to provide a schedule of the amount expended by her Department, and bodies under her aegis, on external training, simulations and advice in advance relating to appearances as witnesses at Oireachtas committees, from 2021 to date in 2025; if the supplier of services will also be provided, with a brief outline of services provided, indicating for which Oireachtas committee the services were utilised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31497/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The document at the link below sets out the requested information in tabular format. According to records held by the Learning and Development unit within my Department, 18 staff have completed training on “Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees” and “Oireachtas Preparation Training”. This training was delivered by the Communications Clinic. Since 2024, staff can request to attend this training course through the One Learning management system as places become available.“Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees” is a practical and theoretical course for participants who need to develop their skills and confidence in appearing before Oireachtas Committees. This course goes through the best ways witnesses can prepare in advance of an invitation, where long-term relationships between senior Civil Servants and Committees are as important as outcomes.The other course that offers support to staff is “Preparing Colleagues to Appear at Oireachtas Committees”. This course looks at the best ways to prepare a colleague in advance of appearing before an Oireachtas Committee, in a structured and professional manner. This is particularly important in the Civil Service context, where established rules and legislation need to be understood as part of the preparation process.

Some staff may have attended training organised by the Senior Public Service team in DPER; however, the Department of Health does not hold any records of such attendance and there were no costs arising to the Department.

Information in respect of the other bodies under the aegis of the Department, including the Health Service Executive (HSE), is an operational matter for the bodies concerned and the Deputy should contact the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar directly.