Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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154. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [31212/13]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [31228/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I proposed to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.

The shorter working year scheme is a centrally agreed scheme where staff can avail of various periods of unpaid leave. The operation of the scheme represents a saving to the Department as those availing of the shorter working year leave are on unpaid leave. In addition, this provides opportunities for the unemployed as the Department recruits temporary clerical officers from the Public Appointments Service temporary clerical officer panel to replace staff availing of shorter working year leave.

The Agencies that operate under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Board and the Citizens Information Board. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also falls under the remit of the Department. The tabular statement below outlines the number of staff availing of the shorter working year scheme in the Department and its Agencies for 2012 and 2103.