Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 1

Written Answers. - Civil Service Staff Training.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

203 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications if she will outline, in respect of her Department and of any Civil Service office under her 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 she 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, she will further outline the percentage of the fee which is refunded and the way in which that percentage was determined.

Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

My Department have a higher executive officer engaged full-time on the induction and training of general service grades, with supporting clerical staff as appropriate. The courses provided augument normal on the job training for these grades. Furthermore, in relation to professional/technical staff in the air navigational services office and the Meteorological Service, extensive specialised on the job training is provided in accordance with the requirements of the various services.

Staff are facilitated in attending both internal training courses and those run by the Civil Service Training Centre and the IPA. In addition, staff are encouraged to undertake in their own time third level courses covered under the refund of fees scheme. The current practice in my Department is to give a full refund where resources permit. A total of 29 officers have received approval for refund of fees in 1992.

The training needs of the Department are reviewed regularly to ensure that the requisite range of skills is available. Every effort is made to respond to identified training needs and requirements.

The information sought in relation to (a) training courses and (b) Civil Service Training Centre courses is as follows:

(a) Departmental Training Courses held during 1991

Title of Course	Duration	Grade	Number
Interpretation of Accounts	3 days	Executive Officer	1
		Higher Executive Officer	6
		Assistant Principal	4
Writing Workshop	1 day	Clerical Assistant	2
		Clerical Officer	5
Report Writing	1 day	Staff Officer	1
		Executive Officer	7

(b) Number of Departmental Staff Attending Civil Service Training Centre Courses (1989-1991)

1989	1990	1991
Grade	No.	Grade	No.	Grade	No.
Assistant Secretary	4	Assistant Secretary	4	Assistant Secretary	3
Principal Officer	6	Assistant Principal	22	Principal Officer	1
Assistant Principal	11	Higher Executive Officer	6	Assistant Principal	3
Higher Executive Officer	1	Clerical Officer	1	Higher Executive Officer	5
ATCO*	2	Clerical Assistant	1	Clerical Officer	1
Radio Officer	2	Meteorologist	1	Clerical Assistant	1
Technical Officer	2	Librarian	1	Librarian	1
Aeronautical Officer	1	ATCO*	4	Meteorologist	2
Aeronautical Inspector	1	Radio Officer	4	Chief Executive Officer	1
		Technical Officer	5	Asst. Chief Executive	1
		Aeronautical Officer	1	ATCO*	8
		Aeronautical Inspector	2	Technical Officer	8
				Radio Officer	6
				Aeronautical Inspector	4

* Air Traffic Control Officer