Public Sector Staff Career Breaks

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Questions (266)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

266. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills 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. [45623/12]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information requested by the Deputy is only readily available for teachers and special needs assistants employed in primary secondary and community/comprehensive schools. There are one thousand one hundred and eighty nine primary teachers, eighty three special needs assistants and three hundred and four teachers in secondary and community/comprehensive schools currently on career break. The period of absence on career break is a period of unpaid leave for the person availing of it. The teachers and special needs assistants employed as replacements are generally paid on a lower point of the incremental scale and accordingly there are no additional costs associated with the operation of this scheme. The operation of the scheme does not impact on overall numbers employed.

Circular 10/2011, which was issued in February 2011, introduced a revised Career Break scheme for registered teachers in recognised primary and post primary schools. It increased the maximum period of absence on career break in the course of a teacher's professional career from 5 to 10 years. It also discontinued a number of other forms of leave including study leave, diplomatic leave and Oireachtas leave."