€600k bill for ‘plain English’ and ‘stress’ classes

Classes in ‘plain English’ and ‘stress awareness’ were just two of the courses taken up by staff at the Department of Social Protection that cost the taxpayer almost €600,000 last year.

According to figures provided by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, the department’s spend on courses for staff increased by 43% to €576,571 in the space of 12 months.

The outlay by the department on courses for its staff increased by €174,598 from €401,973 in 2011 to €576,571 last year.