Written answers

Tuesday, 18 November 2008

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Departmental Staff

9:00 pm

Photo of Róisín ShortallRóisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 158: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average number of sick days taken by her departmental staff in each of the past three years (details supplied); the equivalent figures excluding long term illness cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41068/08]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department monitors sickness absence in order to ensure the proper application of the sick leave regulations. Sickness absence for this purpose is measured in "duration days" (i.e. span of sickness absence from date of the first absence to date of return to work) rather than actual working days lost.

Separately, my Department has begun a detailed examination of sickness absence, applying international best practice principles. Our first examination was done in respect of the calendar year 2007. Considerable man-hours were required to undertake this examination and my Department decided that while such examinations would henceforth be done annually, applying similar resources to previous years' data could not be justified. However, in response to the Deputy's question, and in the time available, my Department has been able to ascertain the information sought in respect of 2006 also. Time did not permit calculating the information for 2005.

YearAverage working days lost per head of staffExcluding long-term illness cases
20078.29 days5.08 days
20068.51 days5.77 days

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