Since 2003, my Department has permitted two staff at HEO-AO-APO grades, to participate in the masters programme in policy analysis administered by the Centre for Management and Organisation Development, leading to an MSc in policy analysis from UCD.
Participants enter into a contract which provides for refund of course fees and salary in the event of the person leaving the Civil Service within two years of completion of the course. Participants are also required to reach a satisfactory standard for attendance, course work and satisfactory performance in the programme. The selected candidates from 2003 have satisfactorily completed the two-year course of study and have been placed in work units appropriate to their newly acquired skills. A further four staff are currently engaged in the programme, two in first year and two in second year.
My Department supported, as a pilot project, participation of two staff at administrative officer level, in the masters programme in economics in UCD in the academic year 2004-05. The course fees were pre-funded and full paid leave for one academic year was approved with strict pre-conditions, signed and agreed by staff and management, that they attend all lectures, complete all project work satisfactorily, pass all exams and agree to work in an appropriate area of the Department for a further period of three years following completion of the course. All fees must be refunded if these staff leave the public service within two years of completing the course. Both participants in the pilot project have completed the programme successfully.
The Department has granted career breaks, that is unpaid special leave, to six staff, from clerical officer to assistant principal level since 2002. The career breaks ranged from six months duration to five years.