Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his Department still grants leave of absence; and if not, the reason this is not considered as a neutral cost saving exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40599/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Staff in my Department may apply for unpaid special leave in the form of a career break. A career break may be allowed for domestic, educational, travel or self-employment purposes and may be granted for a period of between six months and five years (three years in the case of self-employment). They may be approved where the normal operating requirements of Departments are not adversely affected and where additional expenditure is not incurred as a consequence.

My Department currently has twenty-six staff participating in the career break scheme.