Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 1997

Vol. 478 No. 7

Written Answers - Information Technology Training.

Declan Bree

Question:

47 Mr. Bree asked the Minister for Finance if private commercial companies are invited to provide computer courses for civil servants; the number of such courses organised on an annual basis; if companies are requested to tender for the provision of such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12087/97]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

Information technology training requirements of individual Government Departments are primarily a matter for each Department.

Over the years my Department has used a range of private companies to provide computer training for both its general service and information technology staff. IT training for general service staff is currently provided by a commercial company, chosen as a result of a competitive tendering process conducted last year. Such an exercise is conducted every three years. Twenty six courses have been organised for staff of the Department since the present company was chosen and in the preceding two years 47 courses were organised for staff of the Department by its predecessor.

Wherever possible, the services of the chosen training company are also used to meet the specialist technical training requirements of the Department's IT staff, otherwise these are sourced, as required, on the public schedules of a variety of training companies. In the last three years, IT staff have attended 11 specialist courses with our chosen training company and 67 specialist courses with other companies. Where possible, quotations are obtained from a number of suitable companies for such services, although the specialist nature of the training required and the timing of the courses may mean that this is not always feasible.

The Centre for Management and Organisation Development (CMOD) of my Department has responsibility for the provision of some technical training to other Government Departments and Offices and has, where specialist expertise is required in so doing, engaged commercial companies to provide such training. These companies were chosen following a competitive market exercise.Over the past two years three companies have been engaged on the provision of six systems analysis courses and four project management courses.