496 Deputy George Lee asked the Minister for Transport the number of Civil Service staff in his Department; the number of these staff who hold an economics degree; the number of these staff who hold a postgraduate economics degree; the number of these staff who hold a PhD in economics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48320/09]

There are 517.78 whole time equivalent staff in my Department. Information in relation to individual qualifications, where provided by the staff concerned, is held on their personnel file. Records of the overall numbers of particular qualification are not kept centrally.