Sick Pay Scheme

Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Questions (152)

Simon Harris

Question:

158 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Taoiseach the procedures in place to manage sick leave in his Department; the sick leave entitlement in place in his Department; the combined amount of sick days taken by staff in his Department in 2011 and to date in 2012; the financial cost of this sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31610/12]

View answer

The Taoiseach: My Department takes an active approach to managing sick leave consistent with the relevant Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sick leave circulars. These also set out the sick leave entitlements of staff in my Department.

The following table sets out the details requested regarding the number of sick leave days taken. It also includes notional costs which are calculated on the basis of the salaries of the staff who took sick leave and the number of sick days involved. In practice, no significant additional costs arose for my Department through the employment of replacements or substitutes or otherwise.

Year	Number of Sick Leave Days	Cost*
2011	1,402	€243,298*
2012 (to end May)	501	€60,635*

*These are notional costs rather than representing additional expenditure as a result of sick leave.