Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 397: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff in each general service and department grade in his Department who have been exempt for a period in excess of six months from attending meetings, dealing with correspondence, dealing with telephone queries, home or foreign travel, using computers or other duties by virtue of a medical certificate; if such long-term exemptions from normal duties are fair to other staff who must pick up the extra work; if they provide the taxpayer with good value for money; if such exemptions or certificates have been reviewed by the chief medical officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29427/05]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy has clarified that he is looking for the number of staff in my Department who are currently on sick leave absence of more than six months. The regulations on paid sick leave provide that half rate of pay applies to absences of more than six months duration. If the absence is extended beyond one year, pension rate of pay applies.

Four staff in my Department have been on sick leave of more than six months duration, three of whom are on pension rate of pay.

My Department works closely with the office of the chief medical officer, in accordance with the guidelines for sick leave in the Civil Service, to monitor all such cases with the aim of reducing the numbers of staff on long-term sick leave and to minimise the number of sick days taken.