Written answers

Thursday, 6 November 2008

Department of Foreign Affairs

Departmental Staff

5:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the systems his Department has in place for tracking absences from work for various reasons, for benchmarking them against best standards and for estimating the cost of cover or lost input as a result of these absences; and if he will present data for the most recent years on this matter. [39178/08]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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My Department monitors absence through the Civil Service's Human Resources Management System (HRMS). All absences are recorded on HRMS, which is administered centrally by the Department of Finance. The recording of absences is managed by my Department's Human Resources Section. All HQ-based staff at grades up to, and including, Higher Executive Officer register their attendance using a flexi clock. At more senior grades and in our Missions abroad, attendance is monitored and reported on directly by line managers.

The average levels of absenteeism within my Department during the past five years are set out below. Each figure given is the total number of days lost to absence expressed as a percentage of the total available working days for staff in the Department.

2003: 1.98%;

2004: 2.28%;

2005: 2.57%;

2006: 2.76%;

2007: 3.58%.

In general, most absences in my Department are short-term in nature and do not require cover to be provided. Where a long-term absence arises, the question of cover is considered on a case-by-case basis and, if needed, such cover is drawn from existing resources. In some cases, an absent officer may be replaced temporarily by a junior colleague, usually from the same Section, who is paid an acting-up to higher duties allowance. The allowance is equivalent to the difference between the junior colleague's existing salary and the first point of the salary scale for the grade at which they are acting up.

Staff on certified long-term sick leave are entitled to full pay for a maximum of six months in any one year and half pay thereafter, subject to a maximum of twelve months' sick leave in any period of four years or less. Uncertified sick leave absences in excess of the limits prescribed by the Department of Finance may result in disciplinary action, including the withholding of salary increments. The Deputy may also wish to be aware that the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is currently undertaking an examination of the management of sickness absences in the Civil Service. My Department is cooperating with the Office in this regard.

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff employed in his Department whose function it is to deal with representations from his constituency; the number of these staff that are located in the constituency and in his Department; the grade and remuneration at which these staff are employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38951/08]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff employed by Ministers of State in his Department whose function it is to deal with representations from the Ministers of States' constituency; the number of these staff that are located in the constituency and in his Department; the grade and remuneration at which these staff are employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38965/08]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.

There are currently two members of staff in the Department's office in Dublin dealing with constituency matters, one at Staff Officer and one at Clerical Officer level. In my constituency, there are three members of staff dealing with such matters, two Personal Assistants at Higher Executive Officer level and a Personal Secretary at Secretarial Assistant level.

All of these staff are paid at the appropriate civil service rates and in addition my Personal Secretary is in receipt of an attraction allowance of 10% of salary. The staffing of my constituency office is in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines.

Minister of State Mr. Martin Mansergh T.D. does not have private or constituency office facilities at the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 203: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the systems his Department has in place for tracking absences from work for various reasons, for benchmarking them against best standards and for estimating the cost of cover or lost input as a result of these absences; and if he will present data for the most recent years on this matter. [39170/08]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Martin Cullen TD): The Department uses the Human Resources Management System (HRMS) and a time management system (Clockwise) to track absences from work. This tracking is done in consultation with line managers in the Department as appropriate. A significant proportion of all absences relate to statutory entitlements or conditions of employment such as annual leave, maternity leave, parental leave, bereavement leave etc, where the question of benchmarking against best standards does not arise.

While the Department monitors sick leave absences it does not benchmark them against best standards but, as the Deputy will be aware, the Comptroller and Auditor General is currently carrying out an examination on the management of sickness absences across the civil service and the Department which has provided information to the C&AG in this exercise will implement any recommendations arising from this examination.

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 204: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of staff employed in his Department whose function it is to deal with representations from his constituency; the number of these staff that are located in the constituency and in his Department; the grade and remuneration at which these staff are employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38953/08]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of staff employed by Ministers of State in his Department whose function it is to deal with representations from the Ministers of States' constituency; the number of these staff that are located in the constituency and in his Department; the grade and remuneration at which these staff are employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38967/08]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.

There are five staff employed by my Department, whose function it is to deal with representations and matters relating to my constituency. These staff are based in my constituency office in Co. Galway and their grades and remuneration are as follows:

GradeSalary Scales
1 Personal Assistant€444.26 – €857.15 per week + 10% Attraction Allowance
1 Personal Secretary (HEO level)€46,558 – €59,097 p.a.
1 Executive Officer€32,179 – €51,054 p.a.
2 Clerical Officers€467.55 – €758.10 per week

There are two staff employed by my Department, whose function it is to deal with representations and matters relating to the constituency of Mr John Curran, T. D., Minister of State at my Department. They are based in his constituency office in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, and their grades and remuneration are as follows:

GradeSalary Scales
1 Personal Assistant€41,092 – €52,200 p.a. + 10% Attraction Allowance
1 Personal Secretary€444.26 – €857.15 per week + 10% Attraction Allowance

There are two staff employed by my Department, whose function it is to deal with representations and matters relating to the constituency of Mr John Curran, T. D., Minister of State at my Department. They are based in his constituency office in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, and their grades and remuneration are as follows:

GradeSalary Scales
1 Personal Assistant€41,092 – €52,200 p.a. + 10% Attraction Allowance
1 Personal Secretary€444.26 – €857.15 per week + 10% Attraction Allowance

The Deputy will also be aware that Mr Conor Lenihan, T.D., Minister of State with responsibility for Integration, has been assigned to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Department of Education and Science and to my Department. The staffing of his office is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

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