Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 710: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of uncertified sick days taken within all sections of his 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 doctors opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15669/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Details of uncertified sick leave for 2007, 2008 and 2009 as requested by the Deputy are contained in the tabular statement.

The Department of Finance circular 25/78 governs the conditions that apply to sick leave for officials within the Civil Service. Under the conditions an official can at most take 7 uncertified sick days with pay within a 12 month period. However, my Department has a policy that in the event an official incurs 5 days uncertified, that a letter issues to the person concerned and reminds them of the conditions governing sick leave and the implications it can have in relation to the award of salary increments and promotion. As such, it is not possible for an official to take 10 or more uncertified sick days as mentioned in the Deputy's question and in the event it were to arise salary would be deducted from the official concerned for the days in excess of the 7 days.

Where an official has a pattern of availing of 7 uncertified sick days regularly over a 4 year period, the Personnel Officer at the Department can modify or withdraw the concession of uncertified sick leave to the official concerned. No cases were referred by my Department to an independent doctor or the Chief Medical Officer for the Civil Service in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in respect of uncertified sick leave. However, I would like to point out that the C.M.O. has advised that where a Department is concerned about a member of staff taking uncertified sick repeatedly, it should first be addressed through internal management procedures.

In relation to the Deputy's request for details of staff taking sick leave on a Monday or Friday the system that records official's sick leave details cannot readily identify this data and it would take an inordinate amount of official time to compile the information.