Written Answers. - Civil Service Staff Training.
Gay Mitchell
Ceist:
126
Mr. G. Mitchell
asked the
Minister for Finance
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 position in relation to my Department and the offices under my aegis is as follows:
Department of Finance
(1) One full time post of HEO/Departmental training officer for the central Departments and Offices.*
(2) and (3) See table below.
|
Nature of Course
|
Number
|
Duration
|
Participants' grade & numbers (in brackets)
|
|
Clerical Development
|
6
|
½ day
|
CA (19)
|
|
|
|
CO (3)
|
|
Customer Relations
|
1
|
1 day
|
Messenger (1)
|
|
|
|
Receptionist (1)
|
|
|
|
EO (1)
|
|
Effective Writing
|
3
|
1 day
|
EO (6)
|
|
|
|
SO (1)
|
|
|
|
CO (1)
|
|
|
|
CA (2)
|
|
EO Development
|
1
|
2 days
|
EO (6)
|
|
Job guides
|
1
|
1 day
|
SO (3)
|
|
|
|
CO (2)
|
|
Supervisory Skills
|
1
|
2 day
|
EO (2)
|
|
|
|
SO (2)
|
* Finance, Taoiseach, Oireachtas, Gaeltacht, Valuation Office.
(4) There are no plans for expansion of the Training Unit at the present time.
(5) It should be noted that the Civil Service Training Centre comes under the aegis of my Department. The CSTC provides a service across Departments and this will be reflected in replies by line Departments. Details of the number of officials from my Department who attended courses in the CSTC from 1989-1991 are below.
1989, 21; 1990, 81; 1991, 95.
(6) (a), 12; (b) 46 (50%)
In the case of (b) above the percentage of refund payable is determined by the number of applications received and the availability of funds.
Valuation & Ordnance Survey Office
(1) Valuation Office — Nil. Ordnance Survey — 1 Superintendent.
(2) & (3) Most training is on-the-job in both offices. In-house training in 1991 was provided by the central Departmental training officer. Details are below.
|
Nature of Course
|
Number of days Course Available
|
Duration
|
Participants' grades and numbers (in brackets)
|
|
Clerical Development
|
3
|
1
|
CA (10)
|
|
Clerical Development (2)
|
2
|
1
|
CA (3)
|
|
Effective Writing
|
1
|
1
|
SO (1)
|
(4) Training in the Ordnance Survey is of a very specialist nature and unique to the survey. In-house courses are on-going in the various disciplines of surveying and cartography using the latest technology in digitising, scanning and other methodology. The training requirements of both offices are constantly under review especially in the area of information technology.
(5) 1989, Nil; 1990, 6; 1991, 7.
(6) (a), 18; (b), Nil.
State Laboratory
(1) Nil
(2) Nil
(3) Not applicable
(4) Not applicable
(5) Nil, 1, 6
(6) (a), 5; (b), Nil.
Office of Public Works
(1) One higher executive officer.
(2) Nil. The training officer was only appointed in September 1991.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) There are no plans for the expansion of the training unit at the present time.
(5) 1989, 8; 1990, 10; 1991, 10.
(6) (a), 13; (b), 14 (75 per cent).
The refund of 75 per cent is payable to officers commencing approved courses.
This policy was introduced to achieve a greater distribution of the limited funds available under administrative budget arrangements.
Civil Service Commission
(1) 1 HEO — 30 per cent of time on training. 2 SO — each spends 50 per cent of time on training.
(2) Nil. The unit has only recently been set up.
(3) Not applicable.
(4) A training needs analysis for the office is currently under way. Following completion of this analysis, it is expected that a range of courses on work related and on information technology skills will be conducted in 1992.
(5) 1989, 3; 1990, 5; 1991, 11.
(6) (a), 10; (b) Nil.
Office of the Ombudsman
(1) Nil
(2) Nil
(3) Not applicable.
(4) A training and Development Committee was established in 1991 which will identify staff training needs and arrange in-house training.
(5) 1989, 3; 1990, 3; 1991. 6.
(6) (a), 8; (b), Nil.
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
|
(1) (a) Revenue Training Centre
|
|
|
Assistant Principal
|
1
|
|
Higher Executive Officer
|
5
|
|
Executive Officer
|
4
|
|
Clerical Officer
|
3
|
|
Clerical Assistant
|
3
|
|
Total
|
16
|
|
(b) Taxes Training Unit
|
|
|
Senior Inspector of Taxes
|
1
|
|
Inspectors of Taxes (H.G.)
|
4
|
|
Inspectors of Taxes
|
5
|
|
Tax Officer
|
1
|
|
Clerical Assistants
|
2
|
|
Total
|
13
|
|
(c) Customs and Excise Training Unit
|
|
|
Surveyor of Customs & Excise (Part-time)
|
0.5
|
|
Higher Officers of C & E
|
2
|
|
Supervising Officers of C & E
|
2
|
|
Officer of C & E
|
1
|
|
Departmental Clerical Officer
|
1
|
|
Total
|
6.5
|
(2) & (3) See attached Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4.
(4) Revenue has recently restructured the Revenue Training Centre and allocated additional resources and accommodation to cater for the training demands of the decentralisation programme. Technical training requirements for Taxes and Customs and Excise staff are reviewed on an ongoing basis and developed accordingly. The Customs and Exicse Training Unit co-ordinates and implements the EC wide Matthaeus Programme on behalf of Ireland.
(5) 1989, 170; 1990, 212; 1991, 324.
(6) (a), 400; (b) Nil.
Table 1
Revenue Training Centre — Live Training 1991
|
Course
|
No of Courses
|
Duration (days)
|
Participation
|
Total
|
|
PO
|
AP
|
HEO
|
EO
|
SO
|
CO
|
CA
|
|
Induction
|
33
|
½ — 1
|
|
2
|
6
|
21
|
9
|
67
|
224
|
329
|
|
Service to the Public
|
20
|
½ — 1
|
|
|
|
9
|
6
|
44
|
97
|
156
|
|
Communications/ Assertiveness
|
23
|
½ — 6
|
|
|
|
27
|
6
|
44
|
97
|
174
|
|
Effective Writing
|
8
|
1 — 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
41
|
46
|
|
Management
|
5
|
1 — 2
|
|
|
|
45
|
4
|
|
|
49
|
|
Technical Training
|
38
|
1 — 3
|
6
|
21
|
40
|
75
|
23
|
120
|
131
|
416
|
|
Computer Skills
|
18
|
2 — 3
|
2
|
6
|
19
|
30
|
3
|
13
|
44
|
117
|
|
Presentation Skills
|
3
|
2 — 3
|
2
|
2
|
17
|
12
|
2
|
5
|
|
40
|
|
Interviewing Skills
|
7
|
2
|
5
|
8
|
22
|
9
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
Interview Preparation
|
N/A
|
½
|
|
|
7
|
33
|
|
16
|
13
|
69
|
Table 2
Revenue Training Centre — Interactive Video Instruction 1991*
|
Course
|
No of No of Courses
|
duration Duration (days)
|
AP
|
HEO
|
EO
|
SO
|
CO
|
CA
|
Total
|
|
Computer Skills
|
N/A
|
1 — 2
|
3
|
6
|
14
|
2
|
52
|
57
|
134
|
|
Management
|
N/A
|
1
|
1
|
|
10
|
6
|
|
|
17
|
* i.e. computer based training
Table 3
Customs and Excise Training Unit 2. Nature, Number and Duration of Courses, 1991.
|
Course
|
No. of Courses
|
Duration
|
Participants
|
|
HOCE
|
SOCE
|
Officers
|
Indoor Officer
|
DCO
|
AO
|
|
|
|
|
Customs Module of the Common Training Programme of the EC
|
2
|
9 days
|
|
|
15
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
8 days
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
19 days
|
7
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PO
|
AP
|
HEO
|
EO
|
CO
|
CA
|
|
|
|
|
Technical Customs & Excise Course for decentralising staff:
|
1
|
2 days
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
0.5 days
|
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
7
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Surveyor
|
HO's
|
SO's
|
O's
|
IO's
|
AO's
|
DCO's
|
DCA's
|
Watcher
|
|
Basic Computer Courses
|
27 days
|
2 days
|
4
|
20
|
2
|
22
|
12
|
15
|
11
|
18
|
|
|
Drugs Identification
|
4
|
1 days
|
2
|
8
|
1
|
23
|
2
|
32
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
Exams Skills Courses
|
2
|
1 day
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
Induction Course
|
1
|
5 days
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
2 days
|
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
Table 4
|
Nature of Course
|
No. of Courses
|
Duration
|
Participants
|
|
Senior Inspector
|
Inspector (HG)
|
Inspectors
|
Higher Tax Officers
|
Tax Officers
|
Clerical Assistants
|
Total
|
PO
|
AP
|
HEO
|
EO
|
CO
|
CA
|
|
Audit Skills
|
3
|
2 ×4 days
|
|
24
|
16
|
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit VAT
|
1
|
2 days
|
1
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit PAYE
|
1
|
1 day
|
1
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computerised Accounts
|
9
|
2 days
|
1
|
13
|
18
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computerised Payroll
|
7
|
1 day
|
1
|
23
|
31
|
4
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Workshop
|
2
|
1 day
|
|
17
|
9
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Construction Tax Training for Outdoor Staff
|
1
|
1 day
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Telephone Techniques
|
2
|
.5 day
|
|
|
2
|
6
|
11
|
9
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Instruction Skills
|
1
|
4 days
|
1
|
2
|
7
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) Basic Tax: Table
|
1
|
3 weeks
|
|
1
|
13
|
1
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) Basic Book-keeping
|
4
|
3 weeks
|
|
2
|
19
|
34
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Advanced Book-Keeping
|
5
|
1× 3 weeks
|
1
|
9
|
29
|
31
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 × 2 weeks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commission
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exam Part 2
|
1
|
2 weeks
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commission
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exam Part 3
|
2
|
2 weeks
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CT Processing
|
1
|
2 days
|
|
|
|
8
|
11
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training for:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local inquiry Office Wk.
|
2
|
2 days
|
|
|
|
5
|
22
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outline of Taxation
|
2
|
2 days
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
4
|
4
|
9
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
|
Induction Clerical Asst.
|
6
|
3 days
|
|
|
|
|
|
105
|
105
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal Taxation
|
2
|
1 week
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
36
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) Basic Personal Tax
|
1
|
2 weeks
|
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal Taxation
|
22
|
3 weeks
|
|
|
|
|
328
|
|
328
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— Tax Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Examination Cse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(b) VAT
|
1
|
1 week
|
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
3
|
1
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d) VAT
|
1
|
3 weeks
|
|
1
|
4
|
13
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
(c) Outdoor Officers PAYE
|
3
|
1 week
|
|
|
15
|
38
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(d) Revision Tax
|
2
|
1 week
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Examination
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
