asked the Minister for the Public Service whether, in order to release talents at present trapped, he will introduce a generous scheme of sabbatical leave so as to afford members of the public service with a belief in their own industrial or enterpreneurial potential an opportunity to put this to the test, without prejudicing their position in the service in the event of the test proving negative.
Ceisteanna—Questions . Oral Answers . - Public Service Sabbatical Leave .
8.
: As far as the civil service is concerned, I would be prepared to consider on their merits any applications for leave of absence for the purpose referred to by the Deputy. As regards applications from other areas of the public service, these would, in the first instance, be matters for the Ministers directly concerned.
: I am delighted with that reply from the Minister. May I take it the Minister would seriously consider evolving a positive scheme whereby civil servants would be able to get leave of absence for one or two years on reasonable grounds which would guarantee them on their re-entry, if they turned out not to have the talent they thought they had, no loss of increment or security?
: I would certainly be prepared to consider any such application on its merits but, as to the preparation of a scheme, I think this would be inappropriate because the circumstances in cases would differ enormously and the criteria that might be applied, if one laid down a scheme, might exclude some meritorious cases or include non-meritorious cases. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that a scheme as such is not the answer but that any application of this nature should be considered on its merits.
: Having got a very satisfactory reply, I do not want to press the Minister, but would he not consider, if not exactly a scheme, at least something a bit less passive than merely being willing to consider individual applications? The civil service for decades got the cream of Irish school-leaving brains——
: That is a statement.
: The Minister gets the point I am sure.
: I get the point but, for the reasons I have outlined, I do not think a scheme as such would be appropriate. I am prepared to consider applications on their merits.