Written Answers. - Civil Service Staff Training.
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:
159
Mr. G. Mitchell
asked the
Minister for Justice
if he will outline, in respect of his Department and of any Civil Service office under his aegis, (1) the number and grades of the full-time staff engaged in the staff training unit, (2) the nature, number and duration of the training courses given during 1991, (3) the grades catered for on these courses and the numbers in each grade who attended, (4) if he has any plans in relation to the development of the training unit, (5) the number of those who attended courses at the Civil Service training centre in each of the years 1989 to 1991 and (6) the number of staff who are paid a refund of, (a) full fees and (b) part fees in respect of attendance at educational courses leading to the award of degrees, certificates and other qualification; and if, in the case of (b) above, he will further outline the percentage of the fee which is refunded and the way in which that percentage was determined.
The particulars sought in the question in relation to training in my Department are as follows:
Staff Training and Development Section, Headquarters: This section, which was re-established in December 1990, co-ordinated training for head office, the finance division in Killarney, civilian clerical staff in Garda stations and a number of small offices under my Department's aegis.
(1) The full-time staff consists of one training officer (higher executive officer) and two clerical staff. The training officer is assisted by other staff with specialist skills as the need arises.
(2) and (3) During the section organised a number of courses, details of which are as follows:
|
Nature of Courses
|
Number of Courses
|
Duration of Courses
|
Grades catered for
|
Numbers who attended
|
|
Clerical Assistant Induction
|
9
|
2 days
|
Clerical Assistant
|
88
|
|
Supervisory Skills
|
1
|
1½ days
|
Staff Officer
|
5
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer
|
3
|
|
Executive Officer Development
|
1
|
2 days
|
Executive Officer
|
7
|
|
Interview Techniques
|
5
|
½ day
|
Clerical Assistant
|
22
|
|
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
32
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer
|
4
|
|
Work of Department
|
4
|
½ day
|
Clerical Assistant
|
19
|
|
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
40
|
|
|
|
Staff Officer
|
7
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer
|
15
|
|
|
|
Higher Executive Officer
|
6
|
|
|
|
Services Officer
|
3
|
|
|
|
Services Attendant
|
1
|
|
|
|
Telephonist
|
1
|
|
Equal Opportunity
|
2
|
½ day
|
Higher Executive Officer — Principal Officer
|
41
|
|
Safety, Health & Welfare
|
6
|
½ day — 3 days
|
Clerical Assistant — Assistant Principal Officer
|
19
|
|
Keyboard Skills
|
1
|
3 days
|
Clerical Assistant (Data Entry)
|
4
|
The staff training and development section also have an input into special training courses for civilian clerical staff in Garda stations in the context of the new community policing initiative introduced in September 1991 and induction courses for newly appointed probation and welfare officers.
(4) It is hoped to assign an additional member of staff at executive officer level to full-time training duties within the next few months.
(5) The number of staff of the Department who attended centralised training courses under the management development programme at the Civil Service training centre in 1989, 1990 and 1991 was 20, 25 and 39, respectively. These figures exclude language training for which detailed figures are not available.
(6) (a) and (b) A total of 69 staff were granted refunds of educational fees during 1991 under the terms of the relevant circular. Of this total 66 were granted full refunds with the remainder receiving a partial refund ranging from 50 per cent to 90 per cent. Factors taken into account include the number of applicants, the relevance of a course to an applicant's area of work and the overall available financial resources.
Courts Service
(1) 1 higher executive officer. This officer was assigned to these duties on 24 February 1992.
(2) and (3) Nil.
(4) The unit is still in its infancy but the long term plan is to develop the unit to meet the various training requirements which will arise as a result of ongoing changes in legislation, work practices, computerisation etc.
(5) and (6) The figures are included in the replies to (5) and (6) under the heading staff training and development section, headquarters above.
Land Registry
(1) 1 higher executive officer and 1 clerical assistant.
(2) and (3)
|
Nature of Courses
|
Number of Courses
|
Duration of Courses
|
Grades catered for
|
Numbers who attended
|
|
Induction
|
4
|
1 day
|
Executive Officer
|
6
|
|
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
5
|
|
|
|
Clerical Assistant
|
59
|
|
Basic training in setting up and drafting dealings.
|
1
|
20 days
|
Executive Officer
|
7
|
|
|
|
Staff Officer
|
3
|
|
Interview Preparation
|
1
|
1 day
|
Executive Officer
|
3
|
|
Public Counter (checking dealings lodged by hand)
|
2
|
6 × ½ day
|
Executive Officer
|
1
|
|
|
|
Staff Officer
|
3
|
|
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
9
|
|
Computer Drafting (Transfers of Part)
|
1
|
9 days
|
Executive Officer
|
5
|
(4) The five year information technology plan envisages an expansion in the training unit to cater for training in new technology.
(5) The figures are included in the reply to (5) under the heading staff training and development section, headquarters above.
(6) A total of 32 staff received full refunds in 1991. No partial refunds were made.
Prison Service
(1) Three full-time staff: 1 training officer (chief officer II), 1 assistant chief officer and 1 clerk II.
(2) and (3)
|
Nature of Courses
|
Number of Courses
|
Duration of Courses
|
Grades catered for
|
Numbers who attended
|
|
Induction training for recruits
|
9
|
8 weeks
|
Prison Officer
|
170
|
|
|
|
Trades Officer
|
6
|
|
|
|
Industrial Training Instructor
|
4
|
|
Trades Officer
|
3
|
1-5 days
|
Chief Trades Officer
|
16
|
|
|
|
Trades Officer
|
5
|
|
Health and Safety Training
|
4
|
1-3 days
|
Deputy Governor
|
4
|
|
|
|
Assisting Governor
|
7
|
|
|
|
Training Officer
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chief Officer
|
4
|
|
|
|
Electrical Inspector
|
1
|
|
|
|
Clerk II
|
1
|
|
|
|
Assistant Chief Officer
|
9
|
|
|
|
Trades Officer
|
1
|
|
|
|
Prison Officer
|
13
|
|
Specialist Skills (e.g. medical, catering etc.)
|
37
|
1 day-6 weeks
|
Deputy Governor
|
1
|
|
|
|
Assistant Governor
|
5
|
|
|
|
Electrical Inspector
|
1
|
|
|
|
Clerk II
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chief Officer
|
2
|
|
|
|
Industrial Manager
|
3
|
|
|
|
Clerk II
|
5
|
|
|
|
Industrial Training
|
1
|
|
|
|
Instructor
|
|
|
|
|
Trades Officer
|
2
|
|
|
|
Assistant Chief Officer
|
1
|
|
|
|
Prison Officer
|
149
|
|
Computer Training
|
5
|
1-4 days
|
Governor II
|
1
|
|
|
|
Deputy Governor
|
1
|
|
|
|
Assistant Governor
|
1
|
|
|
|
Clerk I
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chief Trades Officer
|
2
|
|
|
|
Clerk II
|
4
|
|
|
|
Mechanical Clerk
|
1
|
|
|
|
Prison Officer
|
1
|
|
Training Instruction
|
9
|
½-10 days
|
Deputy Governor
|
1
|
|
|
|
Chief Officer
|
2
|
|
|
|
Assistant Chief Officer
|
6
|
|
|
|
Staff Welfare Officer
|
1
|
|
|
|
Prison Officer
|
11
|
|
Administration
|
1
|
1 day
|
Clerk I
|
1
|
|
|
|
Clerk II
|
11
|
|
Staff Services Officer (Employee Assistance Scheme)
|
2
|
3 days
|
Clerk II
|
2
|
|
|
|
Assistant Chief Officer
|
6
|
|
|
|
Prison Officer
|
14
|
(4) The Prison Service training centre is located in self-contained premises at Beladd House, Portlaoise, and comprises lecture rooms, dining and recreation facilities and residential accommodation for up to 40 officers. There are no plans for the further development of this centre which is adequate for the current and foreseeable needs of the service.
(5) Not applicable.
(6) In 1991 25 officers received refunds of fees. In all cases, there were full refunds.
Probation and Welfare Service
(1) One senior probation and welfare officer and one probation and welfare officer are engaged full-time on training duties.
(2) and (3) Particulars of courses provided during 1991 are as follows:—
(2) and (3)
|
Nature of Courses
|
Number of Courses
|
Duration of Courses
|
Grades catered for
|
Numbers who attended
|
|
Induction
|
5
|
3 weeks
|
Probation and Welfare Officer
|
4 or 5 officers per course
|
|
Various topics relating to work of Probation and Welfare Service
|
4
|
1 day
|
Senior Probation and Welfare Officer and Probation and Welfare Officer.
|
12 to 15 officers per course
|
(4) A programme of staff training has been drawn up for the first half of this year and future training needs are being assessed on an on-going basis.
(5) Senior probation and welfare officers attend courses at the Civil Service training centre from time to time. The figures for the years in question are included in the figures above under the heading of staff training and development section, headquarters.
(6) Two probation and welfare officers are at present on full-time release, with pay, pursuing studies relevant to their work for which the fees will be refunded by the Department.
Figures for other refunds are included in the figures given above under the heading staff training and development section, Headquarters.
