Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Defence if he still provides staff with the option to take career breaks on one year or more; if not, can this be considered as a cost saving initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40857/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The current arrangements in place regarding career breaks are set out in Department of Public Expenditure & Reform Circular 18/98, amended by Letter to Personnel Officers dated 3 March 2008, which are available on www.personnelcode.gov.ie. The career break scheme is subject to the operating requirements of departments not being adversely affected or to undue additional expenditure not being incurred. The Department of Defence considers applications for career breaks having regard to the circular and to its business needs and staffing requirements. The Department of Defence currently has eight staff on career breaks.