asked the Minister for Finance whether his attention has been drawn to statements made by a spokesman of the Civil Service Clerical Association with regard to the position of junior and senior officials at present learning French under a Government-sponsored scheme; whether it is a fact that senior officials get free tuition while junior officials have to pay for tuition; if so, what are the reasons for such a position; and whether he will give further details of the organisation of this scheme for learning French.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - French Lessons for Civil Servants.
10.
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.
The cost of special classes in French which have been organised for officers engaged on work in connection with the European Economic Community is being paid out of voted moneys. The immediately pressing needs of the public service are involved in these cases.
To provide opportunities for other officers, both senior and junior, to acquire competence in French, the City-of Dublin Vocational Educational Committee agreed to organise classes suitable for their needs. It is not a fact that senior officials get free tuition while junior officials have to pay. The fee of £1 per session charged by the committee is paid by each officer, whether senior or junior, attending the classes.
In addition to the foregoing, special leave with pay to attend in 1962 an approved language course abroad is being granted to a limited number of officers selected from amongst those who are engaged on work in connection with the European Economic Community and those who are not so engaged but for the discharge of whose duties a knowledge of one of the official languages of the Community would be likely to be of substantial benefit, provided that the special leave will not normally exceed four weeks for any officer.