Vol. 488 No. 1
33 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance the numbers of persons in the public service on job sharing arrangements; the implications, if any, for employment policy and, in particular, promotion policy in the public service in view of the recent judgment of the European Court of Justice that job sharers must be given full credit for each year of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5529/98]
As I have direct responsibility for job sharing arrangements in the Civil Service only, my reply is confined to that area. As of 31 December 1997, there were in the region of 2,500 people job sharing in the Civil Service.
Following the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the case of Hellen Gerster v. Freistaat Bayern, all Departments and Offices were informed that, for the purposes of reckonable service, in so far as it affects qualifying service for purposes other than pay, incremental progression and superannuation, credit should be given for all job sharing service on the same basis as full-time service.
The calculation of, and use of, seniority is, in general, a matter for each head of Department. However, Departments were also advised that the Gerster judgment means that it is not permissible, in general, under the Employment Equality Act, 1977, to reckon job sharing service as anything other than fully equivalent to full-time service for seniority lists used for the purposes of promotion or other similar purposes. Departments were requested to amend their seniority lists, if necessary.
Job sharing service for purposes of calculating pay and superannuation entitlements will continue to be calculated on a pro rata basis as at present.
