asked the Minister for Health the number of persons from his 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.
471.
There is one officer from my Department currently on paid educational leave pursuing a one year course leading to a B.Sc. (Public Administration), the cost of which will amount to approximately £4,000. There are no officers on unpaid educational leave.
In respect of the year 1984 the average number of such absences was four and the average cost was approximately £15,000.