Seán Fleming
Ceist:424. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason annual leave is reduced for a category of employees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5332/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 13 May 2020
Ceisteanna (424)
Freagraí scríofa
The annual leave entitlement for Immigration Control Officers of the Border Management Unit in Dublin Airport is calculated in accordance with the Clerical Officer grade on the basis of the equivalent number of hours worked and to take account of requirements for shift workers mandated in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
The recruitment and contract documentation for Immigration Control Officers (ICOs) states that they will retain the annual leave appropriate to the Clerical Officer grade in terms of the equivalent number of hours involved. A new entrant administrative Clerical Officer would have 22 days annual leave. An ICO works fewer days (although with a longer working day) than an administrative Clerical Officer, being rostered for seven 12-hour shifts over a 14 day period (which will include a weekend) and availing of 7 non-work days in each two week period. Generally, ICOs work no more than 3 days in a row, with at least 2 days free until their next shift. Therefore, to maintain the equivalent value of annual leave it is necessary to re-state the annual leave allowance of an ICO.
The annual leave allowance of a Clerical Officer assigned as an ICO on the shift roster is 15.49 shifts per leave year. An administrative Clerical Officer with 22 days of annual leave, on the basis of the standard gross 7 hr 24 minute working day, avails of a total of 162 hours, 48 minutes of annual leave. An ICO, availing of 15.49 shifts per leave year, with each shift being 12 hours gross in duration, avails of 185 hours and 53 minutes of annual leave. The annual leave for ICOs is not reduced: due to their shift pattern, the amount of hours leave granted exceeds that of an administrative Clerical Officer by 23 hours and 5 minutes. This difference is necessary in order to comply with the requirements for shift workers mandated in the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The Annual Leave allowance for ICOs, which is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave, is on the basis of 7 days worked in any 2 week period and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.