asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons from his Department who are currently on (a) paid educational leave and (b) unpaid educational leave; the nature of educational courses being pursued and the cost to the State in monetary terms and in services lost by such absences; and the average number of such absences and average cost to the State for the year 1984.
Written Answers. - Educational Leave.
454.
At present there are nine officers from my Department on paid educational leave (six on full time leave and three on part time leave) at a cost to the State of £88,880. The details are as follows: four of these officers are following a Masters Degree course in economics, statistics and accounting as part of the analysis training scheme which is run by my Department; three officers are following degree courses in Public Administration; and two officers are following a course in Economic Analysis.
There are no officers on unpaid educational leave.
In 1984, a total of 15 officers from my Department availed of educational leave at an average cost to the State of £4,366 per person.
All the above-mentioned courses are relevant to Civil Service employment and, therefore, are regarded as an investment which will be of benefit to the State.