Aidan Farrelly
Ceist:
453. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide a schedule of the amount expended by his Department, and bodies under his aegis, on external training, simulations and advice in advance relating to appearances as witnesses at Oireachtas committees, from 2021 to date in 2025; if the supplier of services will also be provided, with a brief outline of services provided, indicating for which Oireachtas committee the services were utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31487/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra
It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and we will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Orders.
The table below sets out details of the amount expended by my Department on external training for staff on preparing to appear as witnesses at Oireachtas Committees, from 2021 to date in 2025. The supplier of the training was the Communications Clinic. The company was engaged by OneLearning, the shared service for learning and development for the Civil Service.
The purpose of the training was to enhance understanding of the purpose and objectives of Oireachtas Committees and the obligations and rights of those selected to appear in front of those committees.
|
Year
|
Service Supplier
|
Brief outline of Service provided
|
Total Cost €
|
|
2024
|
The Communications Clinic (via OneLearning)
|
Courses provided were as follows:
- Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees - Online Virtual Classroom
- Preparing your colleagues to appear at Oireachtas Committees - Online Virtual Classroom
|
€2730
|
|
2025
|
The Communications Clinic (via OneLearning)
|
Courses provided were as follows:
- Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees - In-Class
- Preparing to Appear as a Witness in front of Oireachtas Committees - Online Virtual Classroom course
|
€1320
|
In respect of the years 2022 and 2023, staff in my Department attended Senior Public Service (SPS) training on Oireachtas Communication Training. This SPS training was provided by the Communications Clinic and was organised by the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding public bodies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for the public body themselves. I have referred this query to the bodies under the aegis of my Department and have asked that they respond directly to the Deputy.
