Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2008
169 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Taoiseach the systems his Department has in place for tracking absences from work for various reasons, for benchmarking them against best standards and for estimating the cost of cover or lost input as a result of these absences; and if he will present data for the most recent year on this matter. [39195/08]
View answerMy Department uses the PeopleSoft Human Resource Management and the Flexi Time Systems to record and track all absences from work, e.g. annual leave, special leave, sick leave and maternity leave. This data is used by the Department to monitor compliance with the provisions of the Organisation of the Working Time Act and Department of Finance Guidelines and Circulars.
As in the case of all organisations, allowance is made for leave entitlements in determining overall staffing complements. There is no specific system in place to estimate the costs of cover or lost input as a result of these absences which is only provided in exceptional circumstances. The average level of staff absenteeism within my Department in the last year is 5.5 days per staff member.
