asked the Minister for Justice 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 average cost to the State for the year 1984.
Written Answers. - Educational Leave.
575.
, Limerick East): There are seven persons currently on paid educational leave and none on unpaid leave. Particulars of the courses being attended are as follows:
|
No. of officers |
Course |
Period |
|
2 |
Diploma in Applied Social Studies |
1 year each |
|
1 |
Diploma in Addiction Studies |
6 months |
|
1 |
B.Sc. — Biological Studies |
2 days per week for Academic year (3 year course) |
|
1 |
B.Sc. — Public Administration |
9 months |
|
2 |
Public Administration |
14 weeks each during current academic year. |
The total fees for those courses this year will be £3,600. These are the only costs involved as the persons concerned will not be replaced during their absences and the services will continue to be provided by colleagues without extra cost. These arrangements are in accordance with official policy to release persons for courses that are relevant to their work in the Department.
In 1984 there were six persons on paid educational leave at an average cost per person of £695 in fees. In addition, in one case in which the release resulted from the officer winning a scholarship awarded by the Department of the Public Service, which included provision for a replacement, there was a cost of £5,000 for the replacement. There was one officer on unpaid leave in 1984 at no cost to the State.