asked the Minister for the Public Service if leave of absence can be granted to a member of the civil service who wishes to pursue a degree at university level; and if so, if he will outline the conditions.
Written Answers. - Civil Servant's Leave of Absence.
397.
If a civil servant wishes to be given leave of absence to pursue a university degree course, he or she may be given special leave without pay provided certain conditions are fulfilled.
The conditions in brief are as follows:
1. The officer must have served, at the beginning of the leave, for at least a year.
2. The course must be accepted by his or her Department as relevant to his or her existing or prospective duties.
3. The special leave would have to be for the full duration of the course, i.e., the officer would not be allowed to resume duty during the university holiday periods.
4. The special leave would be at the discretion of the officer's Department which, obviously, would have to have regard to their staffing and work requirements.