Terence Flanagan
Question:212. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding Garda sick pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16421/15]
View answerTuesday, 28 April 2015
Questions (212)
Written answers
The new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme was introduced from 31 March 2014. The Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014, made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, set out the terms of the new Public Service Sick Scheme.
The rationale for the new scheme is to increase productivity, and lower the cost of sick leave by reducing the periods during which paid sick leave will be available and capping the period during which “temporary rehabilitation remuneration”, formerly “pension rate of pay”, may be paid.
Under the terms of the new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme entitlement to paid sick leave is calculated over a rolling four year period. This did not previously apply to members of An Garda Síochána. Since the introduction of the new Scheme, the number of days lost due to sick leave has decreased significantly.
The new Public Service Sick Leave Scheme provides for the payment of the following financial support to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:
- A maximum of 3 months (92 days) on full pay in a year
- Followed by a maximum of 3 months (91 days) on half pay
- Subject to a maximum of 6 months (183 days) paid sick leave in a rolling four year period.
Temporary Rehabilitation Pay (TRP) was formerly referred to as Pension Rate of Pay and will be calculated and awarded in the same way. It will only be payable when there is a realistic prospect of an individual returning to work. The key change in the move from PRP to TRP is that the maximum period for which TRP can be paid is 18 months.
Additional support for staff who are critically ill has also been agreed. If someone becomes critically ill and is eligible for support under the CIP they may have access to:
- A maximum of 6 months on full pay in a year
- Followed by a maximum of 6 months on half pay
- Subject to a maximum of 12 months paid sick leave in a rolling four year period.
A person given access to 12 months extended paid sick leave under the CIP, will only be considered for a maximum of 12 months Temporary Rehabilitation Pay. This is because the maximum amount of paid sick leave an individual can get access to in a rolling four year period is two years.