Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs 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. [29432/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The following is a breakdown of staff in each grade in my Department who are currently on sick leave in excess of six months:

My Department has identified the issue of addressing and minimising absenteeism as one of the priorities within its human resources strategy. This is of vital importance in ensuring that the Department provides a high quality service to its customers. My Department has developed, through its partnership process and consultation with unions and staff associations, a comprehensive attendance management policy, aimed at addressing the issues arising in the context of sickness absence in an effective and balanced manner. The policy was circulated to all members of staff in June 2005.

As a general rule, the cases of employees who have been on sick leave for approximately six to eight weeks are referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer for the Civil Service, CMO, for review. The CMO plays a crucial role in advising the Department on employees' fitness for work from a medical perspective. In these situations, the employee is required to provide a detailed medical report for the CMO. In certain circumstances, the CMO may request the staff member to attend for medical examination.

Long-term absences can increase the workloads of staff who have to provide cover for absent colleagues, particularly in areas that are working under considerable pressure. Under the attendance management policy, my Department is committed to dealing with such absences in a supportive manner and facilitating the return to work of employees as soon as possible, subject to medical approval. If necessary, a staff member may return to work, initially for a short period, on a reduced attendance basis. Generally, this is after a long-term absence and usually on the advice of the CMO. It must be recognised, however, as emphasised in the policy, that people who are ill should not be at work.