Departmental Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Questions (1, 2, 3)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; and the number of civil servants in his Department and in agencies under the aegis of his Department who were on career break for longer than five years or longer than six years in 2023 or 2024, by month, grade, and length of career break, in tabular form. [46199/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

2. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Taoiseach the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, in 2023 and 2024. [46217/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

3. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Taoiseach to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, that they have been placed on a redeployment panel; and to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, that consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis. [46235/24]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

The Department of the Taoiseach’s purpose is to help the Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, and to build a better future for Ireland and all her citizens. The Department achieves this by building and sustaining a dynamic, agile and responsive workforce that supports the Taoiseach and the Government. The resourcing of business units within the Department evolves on an ongoing basis to reflect strategic priorities and commitments contained in the Programme for Government.

The information relating to career breaks requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below. The Department engages with all staff approaching the end of their career break with a view to facilitating their return to work. All career breaks that were extended were done so at the request of the staff member. The National Economic and Social Development Office - the only body under the aegis of the Department - did not have any staff on career break during the period in question.

Staff on career break at:	Staff, by grade, on career break longer than 5 years	Total staff, by grade, on career break
31st December 2023	Total: 1 1. Executive Officer (11 years)	Total: 10 1. Clerical Officer (4 years) 2. Executive Officer (11 years) 3. Executive Officer (< 1 year) 4. Administrative Officer (< 1 year) 5. Administrative Officer (<1 year) 6. Administrative Officer (2 years)* 7. Administrative Officer (2 years) 8. Administrative Officer (3 years) 9. Assistant Principal (4 years) 10. Principal Officer (< 1 year)
31st December 2024	Total: 2 1. Executive Officer (12 years) 2. Assistant Principal (5 years)	Total: 6 1. Executive Officer (12 years) 2. Administrative Officer (1 year) 3. Administrative Officer (3 years) 4. Administrative Officer (1 year) 5. Administrative Officer (4 years) 6. Assistant Principal (5 years)

*Officer was omitted in error from table provided for written PQ44311/24.

Question No. 2 answered with Question No. 1.

Question No. 3 answered with Question No. 1.