Departmental Staff.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2009

Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Ceisteanna (450)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

505 Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of uncertified sick days taken within all sections of his Department for the years 2007 and 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of employees who have taken uncertified sick days in the categories one to ten days and over ten days; the number of uncertified sick days taken Fridays and Mondays; the number of persistent offenders with regard to uncertified sick days who have been sent for an independent doctor’s opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15673/09]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheál Martin)

The following table sets out the total number of uncertified sick days taken by staff in my Department during the years in question, along with the number of uncertified sick days taken on Mondays and Fridays:

Year	Total number of uncertified sick days taken	Mondays	Fridays
2007	1,317.5	321	199
2008	1,232.0	310	183
2009	334.0	62	42

The following table shows the number of staff taking fewer than 10 and more than 10 uncertified sick days during the years in question:

Year	No. of staff claiming uncertified sick leave who took fewer than 10 uncertified sick days	No. of staff claiming uncertified sick leave who took more than 10 uncertified sick days
2007	571	2
2008	571	2
2009	185	0

I understand it is not the practice within the Civil Service for staff who have taken uncertified sick days to be referred for an independent medical opinion. Such action is generally only taken when an officer has been on certified, long-term sick leave. The Department closely monitors uncertified sick leave absences by staff. Such absences in excess of the limits prescribed by the Department of Finance (i.e. seven days in any period of 12 months) result in the withholding of salary.