Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 762: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff in each general service and department grade in her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [29437/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Finance issues instructions to all Departments from time to time on the arrangements for sick leave for civil servants. Instances of sick leave for officers within my Department are monitored in accordance with such instructions and, where necessary, the advice of the chief medical officer is sought in individual cases.

The welfare and recovery of an officer on sick leave is always of primary consideration and value for money considerations are not necessarily appropriate in the context of the health of an officer. In some cases where an officer is out on long-term sick leave, arrangements are made for acting-ups to cover an officer's absence and temporary clerical assistance is engaged.