I propose to take Questions Nos. 815 and 816 together.
My Department's training and development strategy 2004-09 aims to support the process of ongoing learning for staff. In support of this, my Department operates a scheme whereby staff can have their fees paid in full or in part at the beginning of the academic year for their attendance at courses that are relevant and beneficial to both staff and the work of the Department.
In 2005 my Department will spend approximately 17% of its training budget on payments-refunds to staff in respect of night-time or weekend study courses. Details of applications and projected payments for 2005 are set out in the following table.
Academic year 2005-06
No. of Applications Received
|
Value of Projected Payments in 2005
|
69
|
€124,000
|
Of the staff who received approval to attend courses in the academic year 2004-05, six did not apply for a refund. A list of courses funded in this way by my Department since 2003 is as follows: accounting technician; advanced Internet techniques; advanced ECDL; AITI, professional tax exams; Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Business Studies; Bachelor of Technology — computing; behaviour — assertiveness personal development; BSc in Engineering; BSc in Environmental Studies; BSc in Computing Science; BSc in Rural Development; BSc in Natural Sciences; Business Management; Certificate in Biodiversity Components in Forestry; Certificate in Business Law; Certificate in Civil Service and State Agency Studies; Certificate in Communication Skills; Certificate in Counselling Skills; Certificate in Field Ecology; Certificate in Health and Safety; Certificate in Management Development; Certificate in Managing Change; Certificate in Professional Competence in Road Haulage; Certificate in Psychology; certified Cisco systems; Chartered Institute of Management Accountants — CIMA exams; Cleachtas sa Dátheangachas; Coastal Zone Management; Community Arts for Community Development; Computer Applications; Cúrsa Diplóma sa Ghaeilge; Digital Photography; Diploma in Environmental Impact Assessment; Diploma in Accounting and Finance; Diploma in Arbitration; Diploma in Business Studies; Diploma in Field Ecology; Diploma in Geographical Information Systems; Diploma in Human Resources; Diploma in Legal Studies; Diploma in Management and Employee Relations; Diploma in Psychology; ECDL; Foundations in Law; Franchise; General Science; Higher Diploma in Computers; Higher Diploma in Human Resource Management; Higher Diploma in Policy Analysis; Higher Diploma in Public Management; Higher Diploma in Town and Country Planning; Human Resource Management and Employment Law; Information Technology; Introduction to Social Sciences; Irish; Irish Taxation Institute Associate exams; JEB Teacher Diploma in IT skills; Foreign Language Training; Legal Studies; LLB; MA in Archaeology and Heritage Management; MA in Business Studies; MA in Environmental Protection; MA in Human Resource Management; MA in International Relations; MA in Public Management; MA in Strategic Management and Planning; MBA; Microsoft Office User Specialist Master: MSc in Applied Computing for Technologists; MSc in Applied Ecology; MSc in Environmental Protection X 2; MSc in Science; MSc in Spatial Planning; MSc in Urban Design; PhD in Archaeology; PhD in Biological Sciences; PhD in Life and Health Sciences; Social Policy; Soft Skills Training; the Environmental Web; Theories of Race and Ethnicity: an Introduction; Town and Country Planning; and Web Design.