Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020
168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff in his Department on sick leave between March and September by month in 2019 and to date 2020; the pay arrangements that exist for staff on sick leave for an extended period of time; the number of sick days accounted for by his Department over the period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28932/20]
View answerThe number of staff on sick leave in my Department between March and September by month in 2019 and 2020 and the number of sick days accounted for by my Department by month over the period are set out in tabular form below. The total number of sick leave days accounted for in the period March to September 2019 is 7384 and for the same period in 2020 is 4077.
|
MONTH |
YEAR |
No of Staff on Sick Leave |
No. of Sick Leave Days |
|
March |
2019 |
119 |
1020 |
|
2020 |
88 |
885 |
|
|
April |
2019 |
130 |
1052 |
|
2020 |
25 |
456 |
|
|
May |
2019 |
116 |
1137 |
|
2020 |
26 |
420 |
|
|
June |
2019 |
110 |
1181 |
|
2020 |
32 |
526 |
|
|
July |
2019 |
105 |
1117 |
|
2020 |
42 |
662 |
|
|
August |
2019 |
102 |
969 |
|
2020 |
39 |
588 |
|
|
September |
2019 |
117 |
908 |
|
2020 |
43 |
540 |
Pay arrangements for staff on sick leave for an extended period of time.
Pay arrangements for staff on sick leave are governed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 5/2018. Staff on sick leave are eligible for up to 92 days on full pay in a rolling 1 year period counting back from the day before the latest date of absence followed by 91 days on half pay subject to a maximum of 183 days in a rolling 4 year period counting back from day before the latest date of absence.
Staff who exceed 183 days sick leave in a rolling 4 year period may be paid a rate of pay called Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration. This rate is the same as the rate of pension that the individual would be paid if they were to retired on grounds of ill-health and is paid on condition that the individual concerned must have the service required for an ill health retirement pension (5years) and there must be a reasonable prospect that the individual will be able to return to work and give regular and effective service.
