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.
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. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the introduction of the new scheme, the number of days lost due to sick leave has decreased significantly.
The following tables set out for An Garda Síochána (1) the cost of sick leave and the savings, (2) lost time rates as a percentage and (3) the average days lost in 2013 and 2014.
I am further informed that An Garda Síochána are not in a position to predict expected savings in 2015 as it is not possible to forecast how many members or civilian staff will avail of the scheme in the future.
Table 1. Cost of sick leave and savings
|
Year
|
Cost of Sick Leave for sworn members
|
Cost of Sick Leave for civilian staff
|
Combined cost of Sick Leave for An Garda Síochána
|
|
2013
|
€22.9 m
|
€2.8 m
|
€25.7 m
|
|
2014
|
€13.2 m
|
€2.5 m
|
€15.7 m
|
|
Savings
|
€9.7 m
|
€0.3 m
|
€10 m
|
Table 2. Lost Time Rates
|
Year
|
Sworn members
|
Civilian staff
|
|
2013
|
4.7%
|
5.4%
|
|
2014
|
3.4%
|
5.3%
|
Table 3. Average Days Lost
|
Year
|
Average days lost per sworn members
|
Average days lost per civilian staff
|
|
2013
|
10.73
|
12.35
|
|
2014
|
7.73
|
12.11
|
