Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31211/13]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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137. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31227/13]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.

The Term Time scheme was replaced by the Shorter Working Year scheme in 2009 which allows civil servants to balance their working arrangements with outside commitments, including the school holiday periods for children. Under the terms of the scheme special unpaid leave periods, not exceeding 13 weeks, may be available. The following table outlines the number of staff within my Department and those under my aegis who availed of the Shorter Working Year scheme in 2012 and the estimated number in 2013:

Number of staff availing of the Shorter Working Year scheme