Departmental Staff

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Questions (1071)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

1071. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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, they have been placed on a redeployment panel; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46220/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is committed to providing a work-life balance and flexibility to its staff, including by considering applications from eligible individuals under the Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service.

It is also committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all our grade streams and locations, aiming to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan by which current and future staffing needs are addressed.

In addressing the filling of vacancies within my Department, consideration is given on a continual basis to upcoming career break returns, to identify potentially suitable posts. My Department recognises the importance of supporting our colleagues in their return to the workforce and aims to facilitate such returns with minimum delay.

In relation to staff in my Department on career break, there are currently no officers on record whose career break has been extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in the Department.