John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Defence if a request from a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for all details regarding their entitlements and early retirement on health grounds will be expedited; and if a statement outlining their social welfare payments, salary and stoppages will be issued. [38580/05]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I should explain that the sick pay arrangements for civilian employees of my Department apply to this person. In general, civilian employees may be granted up to six months' sick leave at full pay in any period of 12 months and half-pay thereafter, subject to a maximum of 12 months sick leave of any kind, full pay, half-pay or without pay, in any period of four years or less. Civilian employees are also eligible for disability benefit while absent due to sickness. In such cases, these employees retain their full entitlement to paid sick leave but submit applications through the Department's human resources branch to the Department of Social and Family Affairs for disability benefit. For the duration of the period that an employee is on paid sick leave, the disability benefit payments are forwarded to my Department. Disability benefit payments issue directly to an employee when they have exhausted their entitlement to paid sick leave under the terms of the Department's sick pay scheme for civilian employees. I understand that this person has exhausted their entitlement to paid sick leave. The information requested by the employee relating to ill-health retirement will be issued shortly.