Civil servants on £140k US trip

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Twenty civil servants are on a government-funded three-week trip to Massachusetts, estimated to be costing around £140,000.

They are attending a course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

The Department of Finance and Personnel said the trip's purpose was "to enhance leadership skills" among the civil servants and others taking part.

The 20 Northern Ireland civil servants are joined by 12 counterparts from the Republic.

There are also a number of private sector employees from Northern Ireland on the trip, which BBC News understands is organised annually.

The cost of sending the people within these two groups is being met by their respective employers.

All the participants will also undertake a related placement in the greater Boston area.

The John F. Kennedy School of Government, whose slogan is "preparing leaders for service to democratic societies", has links to Harvard University.

Former students include politicians from around the globe and current World Bank president Robert B. Zoellick, who was last year nominated by George W. Bush as a successor to Paul Wolfowitz.