Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
271. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all sick leave is taken into consideration before sanctioning a due incremental pay rise for public sector employees; his plans to examine proposals that would treat work related illness or injury in a different way when calculating entitlements to future increments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54510/18]
View answerThe Public Service Sick Leave Scheme (S.I 124 of 2014) does not prejudice the Occupational Injuries arrangements in place in each sector, as per the Sick Leave Regulations - (Regulation 4). Therefore any sick leave in relation to an occupational injury is ring-fenced from ordinary sick leave limits and is not included on an officer's sick leave record.
In relation to the payment of increments and also in relation to work related injury or occupational injury, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform does not have responsibility for the arrangements in place across the Public Service and these are the responsibility of individual public service employers as appropriate.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform does have responsibility for the arrangements relating to these issues in the civil service.
The Deputy has asked about the treatment of an occupational injury or illness in the calculation of increments. As sick leave in relation to an occupational injury is not included on an officer's sick leave record, sick leave in relation to an occupational injury is not related to or taken into account in any decisions about increments.
