asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he is aware that in cases where civil servants take career breaks or special leave for study, they face difficulties on their return as PRSI is not paid for the period while on leave; if he accepts that this acts as a serious deterrent to civil servants taking this leave; if he will consider making some special arrangement to cover people in this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Civil Service Career-Study Breaks.
3.
Civil servants who take career breaks can maintain their entitlements for pensions under the Social Welfare Acts by becoming voluntary contributors, provided they have had a minimum of 156 weeks of insurable employment in respect of which contributions have been paid. This is the general position in relation to any worker who for whatever reason ceases to be insurably employed. Civil servants are accordingly treated no less favourably than others.
The scheme for career breaks was agreed in the course of discussions between the staff side and the official side under the General Scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for the Civil Service. I understand the Department of the Public Service, which has overall responsibility for the scheme, and the staff unions involved, regard the scheme as a very useful advance and I am not aware of any dissatisfaction being expressed with the scheme.
In regard to study leave, separate arrangements exist for the grant of paid study leave to civil servants who are attending second level and third level courses in their own time. This paid leave may be granted at the rate of three days in a year to second level students and five days in a year to third level students. Since persons are paid and continue in employment while on this leave, no change takes place in their social insurance contribution and entitlement situation.