In line with other sectors, sick leave statistics for the Permanent Defence Force are compiled annually and provided to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (D/PER). These statistics are used in order to track the level of absenteeism across the Public Service. The absentee rates for the Public Service are then published by D/PER.
As per Defence Force Regulation A12, sick leave may be granted to a member of the Permanent Defence Force, on the recommendation of a Medical Officer, or if not practicable, on the recommendation of a civilian medical practitioner.
The total number of sick leave days taken by members of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, in each year since 2005*, by officer and enlisted personnel, as advised by the Military Authorities, are set out in tabular form below.
Year
|
Army Officer
|
Army
Other Ranks
|
Air Corps
Officer
|
Air Corps
Other
Ranks
|
Naval Service
Officer
|
Naval Service
Other Ranks
|
2018
|
1314
|
69290
|
314
|
7691
|
622
|
7502
|
2017
|
1309
|
63382
|
533
|
5912
|
475
|
6706
|
2016
|
1210
|
61966
|
517
|
4359
|
229
|
6872
|
2015
|
1354
|
54909
|
515
|
4328
|
358
|
6669
|
2014
|
1487
|
46837
|
510
|
4132
|
420
|
5488
|
2013
|
1502
|
48498
|
404
|
4223
|
387
|
5008
|
2012
|
1600
|
45448
|
200
|
3190
|
284
|
4830
|
2011
|
1799
|
50200
|
195
|
2592
|
359
|
5359
|
2010
|
1529
|
57507
|
404
|
3326
|
411
|
5648
|
2009
|
1805
|
52900
|
350
|
3392
|
281
|
5823
|
2008
|
1592
|
60173
|
259
|
6910
|
366
|
4686
|
2007
|
1307
|
59810
|
304
|
7801
|
221
|
7234
|
2006
|
1490
|
60556
|
229
|
12245
|
196
|
5934
|
2005
|
1660
|
53992
|
357
|
10853
|
397
|
4466
|
*All absences due to ill health are recorded on the Defence Forces Personnel Management System (PMS). However, sick leave data is not captured on this system prior to 2005. Accordingly, it is not feasible to compile the figures for the years 2000 to 2004 inclusive, due to the large amount of work required in extracting and calculating the totals manually.