All agencies under the aegis of my Department have detailed sick leave policies in place to manage time and attendance matters, including absenteeism due to sickness. The policies include procedures for staff and management to follow in recording and addressing sick leave levels. These arrangements recognise that staff may from time to time encounter challenges to their health and well-being and that management of sick leave must be done in a fair and consistent manner with the objective of addressing the cause of the sick leave and ensuring regular attendance.
Management information systems are in place to record, monitor and analyse patterns of sick leave. Failure to comply with the sick leave regulations is considered as serious misconduct and the disciplinary code may be invoked. Abuse of sick leave arrangements may lead to penalties including withholding salary increments, withdrawal of sick leave privileges and ultimately dismissal.
The specific information requested by the Deputy is set out below:
No. of staff taking sick leave of more than
|
Children Detention Schools
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland
|
National Educational Welfare Board
|
Family Support Agency
|
5 days
|
138
|
27
|
3
|
2
|
10 days
|
97
|
1
|
7
|
1
|
15 days
|
75
|
1
|
2
|
—
|
20 days
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
21 days and over
|
60
|
1
|
11
|
—
|
The ten highest incidences of sick leave across these bodies are:
Children Detention Schools
|
Adoption Authority of Ireland
|
National Educational Welfare Board
|
Family Support Agency
|
136 days
|
148 days
|
365 days
|
14 days
|
84 days
|
16 days
|
222 days
|
7.5 days
|
65 days
|
10 days
|
102.5 days
|
7 days
|
47 days
|
8 days
|
64 days
|
—
|
41 days
|
7 days
|
56 days
|
—
|
37 days
|
5 days
|
32 days
|
—
|
36 days
|
3 days
|
30 days
|
—
|
36 days
|
3 days
|
30 days
|
—
|
32 days
|
3 days
|
28 days
|
—
|
30 days
|
2 days
|
28 days
|
—
|
I understand that the Office of the Ombudsman for Children has contacted the Deputy directly in relation to sick leave in that office.