Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2013
222. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number who will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31203/13]
View answer223. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number who will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31219/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together.
The Term Time scheme was superseded by the Shorter Working Year Scheme under the provisions of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 14/2009. Under the terms of the Shorter Working Year Scheme, special leave is available in blocks of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 13 consecutive weeks. The leave may be taken as one continuous block, or as a maximum of 3 separate blocks each consisting of not less than 2 weeks and not exceeding 13 weeks in total.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of civil servants of my Department and civilian employees attached to military installations is set out in the following tables:
Civil Service Staff of the Department
|
Year |
No. of staff applications |
Average duration of Special Unpaid Leave |
|
2012 |
38 |
5 weeks |
|
2013 |
36 |
N/A |
The only agency under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. No Civil Service staff attached to the Army Pensions Board availed of the Shorter Working Year Scheme in 2012 or 2013.
Civilian Employees attached to Military Installations
|
Year |
No. of staff applications |
Average duration of Special Unpaid Leave |
|
2012 |
23 |
4.6 weeks |
|
2013 |
15 |
N/A |
Permanent Defence Force
Members of the Defence Forces may be granted term time leave under Defence Forces Regulations, and this leave is not restricted to blocks of weeks but may be availed of in days. The following table sets out details of term time leave availed of by the Defence Forces in 2012 & 2013.
|
Year |
No. of staff |
Average duration of Special Unpaid Leave |
|
2012 |
13 |
49.9 days |
|
2013 |
8 |
N/A |
