Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
612. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the circular relating to the management of sick leave will issue for the higher education sector, similar to the one that issued for the civil service (circular 12/2023 issued on 4 September 2023); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49520/23]
View answerThe Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, which applies to teachers and SNAs, is currently regulated by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations 2014, S.I. No. 124/2014, as amended by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, S.I. No. 384/2015.
Changes to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme took effect from the 4th September 2023, as a result of the legislative amendment of S.I. 124/2014 Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations.
The amendments enact the recommendations that emerged from a review of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme (which took place in 2015/2016 in collaboration between the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, management representatives from across the public service, and trade union representatives) and from the associated Labour Court Recommendation (LCR21812).
The Department is currently in the process of drafting revised Sick Leave Scheme Circulars for teachers and SNAs, to reflect the amendments to the Sick Leave Regulations. Following consultation with Education Partners, comments are being considered. The final Circulars will be published on the Department of Education website as soon as they are available.
The Department also issues Circulars for staff other than Teachers and SNA’s in ETB’s, and these will be published shortly after the publication of Teacher / SNA Circulars.
