Vol. 474 No. 3
57 Miss Coughlan asked the Taoiseach the number of public servants in areas falling within the remit of his Department who are currently on career breaks; and the number who have been waiting over two months to return to work. [2964/97]
There are five officers from the Department of the Taoiseach on career breaks: two higher executive officers, one media researcher, one clerical officer and one clerical assistant-typist. Of these, the only person waiting to return to work is the clerical assistant-typist. As the person wishes to return to work on a job-sharing basis only, she has been referred to the central redeployment pool, which is operated by the Department of Finance, for assignment. In general, people returning from career breaks take the first fillable vacancy in the Civil Service, assigned via the central redeployment pool, rather than awaiting a fillable vacancy in their parent Department.
With regard to the bodies under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach with people on career breaks, the following is the situation: Central Statistics Office, 21 people on career breaks, none of whom is waiting to return to duties; Chief State Solicitor's Office, ten people on career breaks, none of whom is waiting for more than two months to return to work; and the Attorney General's Office, one person on career break, who is not waiting to return to work.
