asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the average number of days spent by officers of his Department on training courses each year; and if he is satisfied with the level of management and technical training in his Department.
Written Answers. - Training Courses.
446.
The Department of Foreign Affairs have a training unit consisting of a training officer (first secretary/assistant principal) and an executive officer. The training officer organises courses within and outside the Department for the diplomatic and administrative grades. The executive officer organises courses within and outside the Department for the executive and clerical grades.
The courses include participation in special senior management conferences, administrative officer basic courses, Institute of Public Administration courses, Irish Management Institute courses, university courses, language courses. There are also special induction courses for new recruits to the different entry grades to the Department.
The training programme for each officer is assessed on his own requirements and interests, and the needs of the Department. It could be misleading to try to give an average number of days spent by officers of this Department on training courses because certain grades need and receive much more intensive training than others. However, in 1981 a total of 1,514 days were spent by officers on training courses. A substantial portion of this was spent attending languages courses, especially in French. Officers in management services also spend a considerable time in special management courses, organised by the Civil Service Training Centre, the IPA and the IMI. Special management courses were arranged and continue to be part of senior officers training, organised by the Civil Service Training Centre.
A number of officers in the finance unit of the Department undertook special computer courses as did officers in the Passport Office. In the overall I am satisfied with the level of management and technical training undertaken by officers in my Department.