Written answers
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Department of Finance
Departmental Staff
9:00 pm
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 237: To ask the Minister for Finance the average level of absenteeism within his Department for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35799/08]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Finance the average level of staff absenteeism within each of the agencies within his Department's remit for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35814/08]
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together.
The percentage of days lost through sickness in my department over the last five years is as follows:
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2003 | 3.36% |
| 2004 | 3.04% |
| 2005 | 2.47% |
| 2006 | 3.22% |
| 2007 | 2.52% |
These percentages are calculated by reference to the total number of people serving at the end of December each year and the number of working days per year excluding the following; weekends, privilege days and bank holidays.
In relation to my Department and the bodies under the aegis of the Department the following tables give details in respect of the % of absenteeism for the years 2003-2007.
| Public Appointments Service | |
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2004 | 2.98% |
| 2005 | 3.46% – 4.17% |
| 2006 | 2.9% – 4.5% |
| 2007 | 3.9% – 4.5% |
| Valuation Office | |
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2003 | 5% |
| 2004 | 5% |
| 2005 | 5% |
| 2006 | 3% |
| 2007 | 4% |
| Valuation Tribunal | |
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2003 | 0% |
| 2004 | 1% |
| 2005 | 21% |
| 2006 | 2% |
| 2007 | 2% |
| Ombudsman's Office | |
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2003 | 3% |
| 2004 | 4% |
| 2005 | 3% |
| 2006 | 4% |
| 2007 | 4% |
| State Laboratory | |
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2003 | 2.1% |
| 2004 | 3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.2% |
| 2006 | 5.1% |
| 2007 | 4.8% |
| National Treasury Management Agency | |
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2003 | 1.34% |
| 2004 | 1.25% |
| 2005 | 1.36% |
| 2006 | 1.77% |
| 2007 | 1.36% |
| Revenue Commissioners | |
| Year | % absenteeism |
| 2003 | 4.1% |
| 2004 | 4.6% |
| 2005 | 4.9% |
| 2006 | 4.4% |
| 2007 | 4.6% |
The Office of Public Works and Special EU Programmes Body are currently collating the information requested by the Deputy and will forward the information directly to the Deputy when this process is completed.
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 239: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff within his Department who have availed of early retirement schemes in each of the past three years; the breakdown of such by the grade and age of the staff who availed of the schemes; the breakdown of the reason for granting early retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35829/08]
Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Finance the number of staff within agencies within the remit of his Department who have availed of early retirement schemes in each of the past three years; the breakdown of such by the grade and age of the staff who availed of the schemes; the breakdown of the reasons for granting early retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35844/08]
Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
I assume the Deputy is referring to a voluntary early retirement scheme. No such scheme is available to staff in the Civil Service. However, there are other arrangements which make provision for retirement earlier than normal pension age in certain circumstances. Arrangements for cost-neutral early retirement were introduced in 2005 under Department of Finance Circular 10/2005 and are available in the Civil and Public Service generally. In broad terms this facility, which was recommended by the Commission on Public Service Pensions, allows staff who are within ten years of their normal pension age to apply for early retirement with immediate payment of their superannuation benefits. The benefits are actuarially reduced to ensure that the early payment is cost-neutral to the Exchequer. Retirement before normal pension age with immediate payment of superannuation benefits may be permitted on medical grounds. Superannuation benefits may also be paid to a Civil Servant before normal pension age as a consequence of the abolition of his or her post or removal from office to facilitate improvements in the organisation of the Department by which greater efficiency and economy can be effected.
The number of staff who retired under each of the above arrangements in each of the past three years is set out below. As the numbers involved are so small any further breakdown by age and grade as requested would not be appropriate.
| Department of Finance | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Abolition of Grade | Nil | Nil | 1 |
| Cost Neutral Early Retirement (CENR) | 2 | Nil | Nil |
| Ill Health | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Office of the Revenue Commissioners | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Abolition of Grade | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| CENR | 22 | 24 | 15 |
| Ill Health | 21 | 15 | 11 |
| Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSI) | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 (not under remit of Dept of Finance since 1/01/08) |
| Abolition of Grade | 2 | 1 | |
| CENR | 1 | Nil | |
| Ill Health | Nil | 1 |
| State Laboratory | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Abolition of Grade | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| CENR | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Ill Health | 2 | Nil | Nil |
| Valuation Office/Tribunal | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Abolition of Grade | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| CENR | Nil | Nil | 1 |
| Ill Health | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| Public Appointments Service | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Abolition of Grade | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| CENR | Nil | 1 | Nil |
| Ill Health | Nil | 1 | Nil |
At the time of reply details were unavailable for a small number of bodies under the remit of the Department. Details will be forwarded to the Deputy as they become available.
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