Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the procedures in place to manage sick leave in his Department; the sick leave entitlement in place in his Department; the combined amount of sick days taken by staff in his Department in 2011 and to date in 2012; the financial cost of this sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31566/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department introduced an Attendance Management Policy in March 2011. The policy is based on Department of Finance Circular 09/2010 on the Management of Sick Leave. It sets out clear procedures for reporting, recording and management of sick leave and is intended to help managers adopt best practice approaches to attendance management. It seeks to encourage excellent attendance while clearly acknowledging the need for staff to take sick leave when unwell.

The granting of sick leave and whether it is with or without pay is a matter for the Department. In accordance with the Sick Leave regulations staff members may be granted up to 7 days uncertified sick leave in a twelve month period. Full pay may be allowed up to a maximum of six months in one year and half pay thereafter subject to a maximum of twelve months sick leave in any period of four years. Where sick leave with pay is exhausted a staff member may be granted sick leave with pension rate of pay subject to the condition that there is a reasonable prospect of resumption of duty with ability to render efficient service.

A total of 9,723 person days sick leave was taken by staff in my Department in 2011 at a cost of €1,398,863. In the first quarter of 2012 staff of my Department took a total of 2,454 person days sick leave at a cost of €394,358.