Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the actions that are being taken in areas in the health service that have higher than normal sick leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43530/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The health sector, as with other public service employers, has sick leave schemes for staff when they are absent from work through illness.

The HSE has strengthened its policies and procedures on attendance management in light of the 3.5% target in its 2012 National Service Plan, including:

- Action plans for all sites for the management of absence over 3.5%

- Analysis of certified and uncertified absence on each hospital site and community care area

- Monitoring adherence to Attendance Management Policies such as return to work interviews, counselling, referral to Occupational Health

- Use of disciplinary processes where appropriate

A greater focus has been placed on early intervention and attendance management training is being provided to line managers. In addition, HR and Occupational Health support is available for line managers to assist in managing attendance more effectively. The overall rate of sick leave is 4.9% to July 2012 and almost 90% of this is certified.

The Public Service Reform Programme contained a commitment to review sick leave policies in the Civil and Public Service with a view to improving productivity and reducing absences. The Labour Court recently issued recommendations which will lead to the introduction of reformed sick leave rules for the Irish public service. This included a halving of permitted self-certified sick leave to a maximum of seven days in a rolling two-year period. Certified sick-leave for circumstances other than critical illness will be halved from 2014 to a maximum of 3 months on full pay followed by 3 months on half pay in any rolling 4 year period.