Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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250. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a schedule of the amount expended by his Department, and bodies under his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [31504/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In the period 2021-2025, the Department of Transport spent €550 on Preparing to Appear at Oireachtas Committees training, which was provided via the Civil Service’s standard OneLearning framework and delivered by The Communications Clinic. There were a total of 5 attendees over three course sessions. The sessions were offered as a standard within the training framework and were not bespoke to Transport. The training was of a general nature and not designed for any specific committee.

• 11 & 12 April 2024 (2 half day sessions): Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees - Online Virtual Classroom - 1 participant
• 7 & 8 November 2024 (2 half day sessions): Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees - Online Virtual Classroom – 1 partipicant
• 26 & 27 March 2025 (2 half day sessions): Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees - Online Virtual Classroom – 3 participants

Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees - Online Virtual Classroom

• This is a practical and theoretical course for participants who need to develop their skills and confidence in appearing before Oireachtas Committees. This course will go through the best ways you can prepare in advance of an invitation, where long-term relationships between senior Civil Servants and Committees are as important as outcomes.

• 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.