Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 7 Nov 1991

Vol. 412 No. 3

Written Answers. - Job-sharing and Career Break Scheme.

Roger T. Garland

Question:

122 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline, within the area of responsibility of his Department and covering each year from the commencement of the job-sharing and career break scheme (a) the total number of applications received and (b) the total granted and not granted; if he will give a breakdown of the grades involved under each heading and the reasons some applications were turned down; if his Department have plans to extend the job sharing scheme from working halved hours to a system which facilitates the workers' requirements; and if not the reason therefor.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Collins)

My Department and the one semi-State body under their aegis, the Agency for Personal Service Overseas, have participated fully in the job-sharing and career break schemes since they were introduced by the Minister for Finance in 1984. The information sought by the Deputy in regard to both schemes is set out in schedules 1 and 2 which I propose to circulate.

Every effort is made by my Department to facilitate staff who wish to take a career break or to job-share. No application to job-share has been refused by my Department to date. In the case of career breaks, a small number of applications have been refused on the grounds that they did not qualify under the terms of the relevant Department of Finance circular.

In the case of job-sharing, if no potential partner is available from within my Department, arrangements are made, with the agreement of the staff member concerned, to transfer the applicant to another Department where a job-sharing partner has been identified; alternatively the potential partner may transfer to my Department. The Department of Finance maintains a central register of job-sharing applications for this purpose.

I am not aware of any dissatisfaction with the existing job-sharing scheme which is operated by my Department within the terms of the relevant Department of Finance circular.

Schedule 1

Job-Sharing

Department of Foreign Affairs

Year	Applications received	Applications refused
1984	1 Executive Officer	Nil
	1 Staff Officer
	1 Clerical Assistant
1985	1 Executive Officer	Nil
1986	Nil	Nil
1987	1 Executive Officer	Nil
1988	2 Clerical Assistants	Nil
1989	1 Staff Officer	Nil
	2 Clerical Assistants
1990	2 Clerical Officers	Nil
	1 Clerical Assistant
1991	1 Executive Officer*	Nil
	2 Clerical Assistants*

*These officers have been informed that their applications have been approved. The dates of commencement of job-sharing is a matter for agreement with them.

Schedule 2

Career Breaks

Department of Foreign Affairs

Year	Applications received	Applications refused
1984	5 Clerical Assistants	Nil
	1 Clerical Officer
	1 Third Secretary
	1 Company Secretary (APSO)
1985	7 Clerical Assistants	Nil
	2 Clerical Officers
	1 Higher Executive Officer
	1 Third Secretary
	4 First Secretaries
1986	8 Clerical Assistants	Nil
	1 Staff Officer
	1 Executive Officer
	1 Higher Executive Officer
	2 Third Secretaries
	1 First Secretary
	1 Counsellor
1987	8 Clerical Assistants	Nil
	2 Clerical Officers
	3 Executive Officers
	3 Third Secretaries
	3 First Secretaries
1988	15 Clerical Assistants	Nil
	1 Clerical Officer
	1 Executive Officer
	2 Third Secretaries
	1 First Secretary
1989	1 Counsellor	One(a)
	5 Clerical Assistants	Two(a)
	1 Clerical Officer
	4 Third Secretaries
1990	6 Clerical Assistants	One(a)
	2 Clerical Officers	One(a)
	1 Staff Officer
	1 Higher Executive Officer
	3 Third Secretaries
1991	3 Clerical Assistants	Nil
	1 Clerical Officer
	2 Third Secretaries
	1 First Secretary

(a) Application did not qualify under the terms of the circular on career breaks then in operation.