Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
462. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality 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. [44371/12]
View answer483. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Justice and Equality 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. [45629/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 483 together.
There are 104 staff of my Department and agencies staffed by my Department, as set out in the table below, currently on career break. This includes staff availing of a career break under Circular 18/98 - Special Leave without pay for career breaks and also the Special Civil Service Incentive Career Break Scheme 2009.
Staff availing of a career break under Circular 18/98 are availing of unpaid leave and therefore my Department does not incur any cost during the period of their career break. The estimated cost of the scheme for 2011 for those staff availing of a career break under the Special Civil Service Incentive Career Break Scheme 2009 is €563,910.
Temporary replacements are not hired for staff on career break. In some circumstances, however, where the urgent business needs of the area requires it, a person on career break will be replaced by way of internal transfer.
Staff availing of a career break are not considered serving staff for the duration of their career break.
The Deputy should be aware that reform of the Career Break Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
|
Department |
Grade |
|
Department’s Head Office |
Assistant Principal Officer x 2 |
|
- |
Administrative Officer x 3 |
|
- |
Higher Executive Officer x 9 |
|
- |
Executive Officer x 28 |
|
- |
Staff Officer x 1 |
|
- |
Clerical Officer x 39 |
|
- |
Service Officer x 1 |
|
Equality Authority |
Assistant Principal Officer x 1 |
|
- |
Executive Officer x 2 |
|
- |
Clerical Officer x 1 |
|
Irish Prison Service |
Clerical Officer x 3 |
|
Private Security Authority |
Assistant Principal Officer x 1 |
|
Data Protection Commission |
Assistant Principal Officer x 1 |
|
Probation Service |
Probation Officer x 7 |
|
- |
Clerical Officer x 5 |
