Departmental Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 May 2021

Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Questions (408, 409)

Bríd Smith

Question:

408. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the position of employees in her Department who are seconded to other agencies during their work life; the way their salaries are treated for the purposes of pension contributions and entitlements; the reason a person (details supplied) who has been seconded from FÁS and then to her Department has had a high portion of their salary treated differently in relation to superannuation contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27904/21]

Bríd Smith

Question:

409. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if an employee (details supplied) in her Department who is on secondment to a separate agency for extensive periods of time still enjoys the benefits of being an employee of her Department; if they have the right to initiate the employee grievance procedures of her Department as do other employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27905/21]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 together.

In accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) rules, civil servants on secondment maintain their terms and conditions of employment including salary during their period of secondment. Any additional payments made during that period are non-pensionable.

With regard to the individual in question, prior to her redeployment to my Department in 2012, she was employed by FAS as a clerical officer. She was seconded from FAS to another body for a number of years and was paid at her substantive grade of clerical officer plus an additional non-pensionable allowance, in accordance with DPER rules and the secondment agreement she entered into at that time. This arrangement has continued since she was redeployed to this Department.

During periods of secondment, civil servants may initiate grievances as appropriate under the Civil Service Grievance Procedure in accordance with Department of Finance Circular 11/2001.

Question No. 409 answered with Question No. 408.