Exchequer Savings

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Questions (343)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

343. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in training and development for his Department. [34607/13]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information sought by the Deputy is provided in the table. The training budget meets the cost of training and development for the Department's staff in administrative, professional, technical and service grades, and aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of staff to build capability to enable the Department meet current and future challenges and promote personal development of staff.

Between 2008 and 2012 expenditure on training (excluding the National Educational Psychological Service) was reduced by 50% to less than €0.5 million. Expenditure on staff training in NEPS reduced by over 20% since 2008 although the number of psychologists employed by my Department increased. In addition NEPS operates a range of programmes at school level (e.g. Incredible Years, Friends for Life) through which training is delivered by NEPS staff to teachers for delivery to students.

Expenditure	Percentage Reduction	Percentage Reduction	Percentage Reduction	Percentage Reduction	Percentage Reduction	Percentage Reduction	Percentage Reduction
Expenditure on Staff Training and Development in 2012 (Excl. Psychological Service - NEPS)	5% reduction	7% reduction	10% reduction	12% reduction	15% reduction	17% reduction	20% reduction
478,266	23,913	33,479	47,827	57,392	71,740	81,305	95,653
Expenditure on Training and Development in 2012 (NEPS)
108,854	5,443	7,620	10,885	13,062	16,328	18,505	21,770
Total Expenditure in 2012
587,120	29,356	41,099	58,712	70,454	88068	99,810	117,423