asked the Minister for Education the number of persons from her Department who are currently on (a) paid educational leave and (b) unpaid educational leave; the nature of educational courses being pursued and the cost to the State in monetary terms and in services lost by such absences; and the average number of such absences and average cost to the State for the year 1984.
Written Answers. - Educational Leave.
583.
At present, one officer is on paid educational leave and five officers are on unpaid educational leave. The officer on paid educational leave, is completing a BA Course in Economics and Social Studies under the Civil Service scholarship scheme. Three of the officers on unpaid leave are studying for a BA degree; the two others are studying for MA, H.Dip. in Ed.
The cost to the State in monetary terms in 1985 is £5,100, approximately. The services lost in 1985 as a result of the absence of an officer on paid educational leave amount to the services of one executive officer for approximately six months. The officers on unpaid educational leave have been replaced and accordingly my Department have not incurred a loss of services as a result of their absence.
During 1984 there were 18 officers on study leave for various periods; their average period of absence in 1984 was six months and the average cost to the State was £1,008.