Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2005
437 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the rates of overtime or additional allowances payable to staff who work in his Department’s press office in respect of persons being on-call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29293/05]
Amharc ar fhreagra438 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amounts of ex gratia payments made to staff in his Department’s press office in respect of persons being on call and their additional attendance at work before or after normal hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29308/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together.
Staff in my Department's press office may be paid overtime or granted leave in lieu at standard rates for additional attendance before or after normal office hours. There are no other allowances paid in respect of such attendance.
439 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the amount of compensatory leave granted or due to be granted to staff in his Department; the individuals to whom they were granted in respect of additional attendance at work before or after normal hours of attendance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29323/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. I will revert to him as soon as possible.
440 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if the personnel files of staff in his Department have been copied or given to external parties; if so, the safeguards which have been put in place to ensure that no personal data of any member of staff in his Department will be released to third parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29338/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department places great emphasis on safeguarding the confidentiality of all personal data held on staff's personnel files. To that end, systems are in place to ensure that all such data is kept secure and is only accessible to a limited number of authorised staff within the Department.
There are only three circumstances in which personnel files of staff in my Department may be copied or given to external parties. First, in the case of long-term absenteeism on sick leave, the practice until recently had been for the individual's personnel file to be referred to the chief medical officer for review. In such instances, a strict operational regime was in place which involved the file in question being delivered by hand from my Department directly to the chief medical officer, whose office is keenly aware of the confidential nature of personnel files. This system has recently been revised with the introduction of a case referral form, which obviates the need for transmitting the entire personnel file. Second, my Department has occasionally released data from individual personnel files to solicitors representing those individuals, but only with the consent of the individuals themselves.
Third, in the case of investigations carried out under the Civil Service disciplinary code, it may be necessary, in the event of the individuals concerned invoking their right of appeal against the findings of the investigation, to make available to the Civil Service disciplinary appeals board all, or relevant papers from, the individual's personnel file. The entire disciplinary procedure is, however, carried out to the highest standards of confidentiality.
441 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of staff in his Department to whom leave of absence, or any other absence from normal duties or place of work, in excess of two months was granted for educational purposes in any year since 2002; the nature of the educational course undertaken in each case; if there are terms or conditions relating to academic achievement attached to the granting of such leave; if personnel who were granted such leave failed to complete their courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29353/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accompanying table shows the position regarding five members of staff in my Department who have been granted leave of absence for a period in excess of two months for educational purposes. The granting of special leave or career breaks for educational purposes is not conditional on attaining any particular level of academic achievement or on completion of the course in question.
A further two members of staff of my Department were released from duty for a period of two years in order to pursue an MSc in public policy analysis programme under the terms and conditions of Department of Finance circular 13/2003 and have successfully completed their studies. Another two staff members are partaking in subsequent programmes.
|
Start Date |
Date of Return |
Course Details |
Scheme |
|
13/09/04 |
28/09/05 |
MSc Medical Physics |
Special leave without pay under terms of Department of Finance circular 2/76 |
|
07/09/02 |
08/10/03 |
MA in Archaeology |
Career break under terms and conditions of Department of Finance circular 18/98 |
|
02/05/00 |
03/05/05 |
Certificate in Elementary Cookery, progressing to 2 year full-time professional cookery |
Career break as above |
|
13/06/05 |
14/01/08 |
Trainee Solicitor |
Career break as above |
|
16/04/99 |
15/04/01 |
Computer Science |
Career break as above |
442 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of staff who applied for a refund of course fees in respect of courses undertaken at night or evenings; the value of refunds expected to be made by his Department in 2005; the number of staff to whom approval to attend a course was granted in the last academic year but did not subsequently apply for the refund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29368/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraApproval was granted by my Department to 66 staff applications for a refund of course fees in respect of night or evening courses undertaken in the last academic year. Of the 66 approvals granted, fees were not paid in respect of two of those applications. An amount of €169,318 was paid out in respect of the remaining 64 staff members who completed courses in 2005.
