Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
118. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Taoiseach the number of staff in his Department or agencies under his control that are currently on career break; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers by grade and agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44374/12]
View answer125. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Taoiseach the number of staff that availed of the special civil service incentive career break scheme 2009; the cost of the scheme since its introduction; the savings on the pay bill in that time period; the estimated full year cost for the return of all the new civil servants in 2013; the number of staff members that applied for a further extension of their leave; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45616/12]
View answer126. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Taoiseach the number of staff across the public service that are currently on a career break; if he will provide a breakdown of the numbers on career leave by Department and agency; the estimated cost of this scheme per year; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; the reforms that have taken place in this general area in the past year; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45631/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 125 and 126 together.
There are currently 13 staff on career break from my Department as follows: five Clerical Officers; four Executive Officers; two Administrative Officers and two Assistant Principals. There is one Executive Officer from the National Economic and Social Council, which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department, on career break. Seven staff from my Department availed of the civil service special incentive career break scheme which was introduced for a limited time in 2009. This scheme provided for payment of a third of gross salary to a maximum of €12,500 per annum for three years for those who availed of it. As such a cost arises for my Department under this scheme but no costs arise under the other career break scheme available to staff in my Department which provides for unpaid leave only.
To date, €219,984 has been paid by my Department to the officers who availed of the incentivised career break scheme. No staff were hired temporarily to cover those on career break under either scheme and the savings on the pay bill so far are €1,073,163. In keeping with normal practice for recording staff numbers, staff availing of the scheme are not counted in the staff numbers returns which Departments make to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is not possible to estimate the cost arising in 2013, for the return of staff who availed of the scheme, as it is not yet clear when vacancies will be available. The working patterns of the staff concerned (e.g. full time, mornings only, week-on/week/off) and whether they might wish to extend their career breaks are other factors that would affect the costs arising from their returning to work. One of the staff concerned has applied for a career break extension. Changes to the career break schemes are centrally agreed and as such are a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
