Vol. 414 No. 4
54 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the workings of the scheme whereby male and female civil servants and local authority staff are afforded leave to enter religious life; the number of years for which their jobs are held open; and whether this facility is available to persons of all religious persuasions.
As you are aware, I have direct responsibility for conditions of service in the Civil Service only. The Minister for the Environment has responsibility for the local authorities.
Civil servants who state that they are resigning in order to follow a religious vocation may apply to their former employing Department for withdrawal of their resignation within twelve years of resigning. Their return to the Civil Service is conditional on: (i) their applying for withdrawal of resignation within three months of leaving the religious life; (ii) their producing satisfactory evidence that they took practical steps to give effect to their intention to enter the religious life, (iii) their satisfying the Chief Medical Officer in regard to their health, and (iv) a suitable vacancy being available.
This facility is available to all civil servants who specifically state in writing that they are resigning in order to follow a religious vocation.
