THE Department of Agriculture is under pressure - from tribunals, Dail committees, rampaging farmers and of course Progressive Democrats deputy Des O'Malley - a state of affairs which may explain why 8,448 members of staff attended training and development courses between April 1997 and this February. The cost, given to Green deputy John Gormley in a written answer last week, was £2,145,338 in less than two years.
Most of the in-house courses included computer training and a few were agriculture-related. But some specialities, given the way things are in the department, stand out: 304 people opted for a course in personal effectiveness, 49 learned about court statements and appearances and 23 studied stress management.
One civil servant was listed for a course in coaching skills. Some wit wondered if this was Moss Keane, the former rugby international, who works in the department.