Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
562. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the rate of absenteeism for year to date by region; the cost of absenteeism by region broken down by staffing categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53719/12]
View answerAs a result of Labour Court recommendations, reformed sick leave rules across the public service are being introduced over the next 15 months:
- A halving of self-certified sick leave to a maximum of seven days in a rolling two-year period. These changes have been introduced with effect from 1 November 2012 and should have some effect on staff with a high incidence of such absences;
- From January 2014, certified sick-leave for circumstances other than critical illness will be halved to a maximum of 3 months on full pay followed by 3 months on half-pay in a rolling 4 year period;
- The new arrangements will introduce a critical illness provision of 6 months on full pay and 6 months on half pay.
The reduced self-certified sick leave should have a positive effect on staff behaviour, with a consequent improvement in the absenteeism rates. The prospect of more restrictive rules on certified absence from 2014 may also help. However, regardless of the new rules, minimising the incidence of sick-leave absence has to be the subject of a clear and sustained management focus and the HSE is pursuing this, especially in locations and services which clearly have unacceptable levels of sick absence. As the specific question raised is a service issue I have arranged it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
