Meeting the learning and development needs of both the Department and its staff is primarily the responsibility of the Corporate Learning Unit (CLU). There are, however, a number of areas within my Department, such as the Probation Service and the Forensic Science Laboratory, which have their own Training Units because of their specialist training needs. Expenditure by CLU in 2011 was approximately €600,000 and, to date, for 2012 has been €240,000. The programme of training provided by CLU includes: formal classroom training within the Department, such as, a Middle Managers Development Programme, soft skills training, IT end-user training, health and safety training, etc; the attendance of staff on public courses, seminars and conferences, and refunds to staff under the Refund of Educational Fees Scheme.
I am advised that approximately 850 staff availed of this programme of training in 2011 and 380 to date in 2012, however, a breakdown of the information in the manner requested by the Deputy is not readily available and to provide such detail would require the allocation of a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and resources.