Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of uncertified sick days taken within all sections of her Department for the years 2007 and 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of employees who have taken uncertified sick days in the categories one to ten days and over ten days; the number of uncertified sick days taken Fridays and Mondays; the number of persistent offenders with regard to uncertified sick days who have been sent for an independent doctor's opinion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15674/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The number of uncertified sick days taken by officers in my Department in 2007, 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 are 679.45, 522.42 and 139.23 respectively. These figures relate to general service grades (Assistant Secretary to Clerical Officer).

Under Circular 25/1978 an officer "...may be granted leave for one or two days without medical certificate, within a limit of seven days in the aggregate in any period of twelve months...." Data is therefore not currently collated by my Department in respect of uncertified sick leave above seven days. If an officer exceeds the limit of seven days in any period of twelve months the excess is deducted from either his/her annual leave allowance (above statutory minimum), in the current year or in the following year, or a deduction is made from his/her salary. The table below shows the number of people who took between one and seven days uncertified sick leave in the calendar twelve months of 2007 and 2008.

Data is also not collated by my Department in respect of the days of the week on which officers take uncertified sick leave. However, the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General undertook sick leave data analysis across several Government departments in 2008 and I understand that "day of the week" was one of the criteria examined. The findings and recommendations of the C & AG are awaited at this time.

Officers who are absent on certified sick leave for more than 4 - 6 weeks, depending on the condition, are routinely referred to the office of the Chief Medical Officer of the Civil Service (CMO) for review and advice. These referrals are solely based on a duty of care principle and should, in no way, be seen as a sanction or disciplinary action against an officer. In fact, the intervention and guidance of the CMO can often aid an officer's return to work after illness. The Human Resources Unit of my Department does not refer officers to the CMO in relation to uncertified sick leave. Rather, as provided for in Paragraph 12 of Circular 25/1978, a formal notification and reminder of the rules governing uncertified sick leave is sent to any staff member who reaches a total of 5 or more days uncertified sick leave in any "rolling" twelve month period. A copy of this letter is also forwarded to the officer's section head, for appropriate follow-up and management.