I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.
The information sought by the Deputy about the proportion of the training budget spent and details of courses funded by the Department of the Taoiseach in the last three years is set out in the following table.
The Department of the Taoiseach continues to work towards the target of 4% of payroll being spent on training and development as committed to in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness and Sustaining Progress. The Department of the Taoiseach is committed to ensuring that every member of staff has the opportunity to develop the competencies required to meet work objectives, thus contributing to meeting the Department's goals and objectives, now and in the future, and to further personal and career development goals at each stage of the work life cycle from induction to retirement.
In compliance with circular 21-78, third level courses of education, all courses funded in the Department of the Taoiseach are accepted as relevant to employment in the Civil Service generally. To be eligible for a refund of course fees, each person is required to sign a necessary form of undertaking. Therefore, he or she is committed to reimbursing, in full, to the Department of the Taoiseach, the amount paid in respect of their academic studies if he or she discontinues the course or if he or she leaves the Civil Service without having worked a period equal to the duration of the course following its completion.
Proportion of training budget
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List of all courses funded
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2003€52,761 representing 21% of overall training budget for 2003 of €250,000
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200326 members of staff were involved in various training courses as follows:Certificate programmes — 2 Diploma programmes — 5Degree programmes — 6Masters programmes — 8PhD programmes — 1Other e.g. IT, Languages etc — 4
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2004€102,597 representing 26% of overall training budget for 2004 of €400,000
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200433 members of staff were involved in various training courses as follows:Certificate programmes — 5Diploma programmes — 11Degree programmes — 4Masters programmes — 9PhD programmes — 1Other e.g. IT, Languages etc — 3
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2005€77,000 representing 16% of overall training budget for 2005 of €475,000.It is not expected that this amount will increase significantly for the remainder of 2005.During 2005 two people to whom approval was granted to attend a course did not subsequently apply for the refund.
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200530 members of staff were involved in various training courses as follows:Certificate programmes — 2 Diploma programmes — 8Degree programmes — 7Masters programmes — 7PhD programmes — 0Other e.g. IT, Languages etc — 6
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