Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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144. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff employed in the passport section of his Department in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30738/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The number of staff employed in the Passport Service is augmented in peak periods in response to seasonal demands. As of today’s date, the Passport Service employs 317 fulltime equivalent staff plus 232 Temporary Clerical Officers. The numbers of staff employed by the Passport Service at the end June 2015 and at end June 2016 are also detailed in the table.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff employed in the passport section of his Department in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017 who have availed of the shorter working year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30739/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the terms of the Shorter Working Year scheme, special leave is available for periods of 2,4,6,8, 10 or 13 weeks. The number who participated in the scheme in the past three years is as follows:

The Shorter Working Year scheme is one of a wide range of family friendly and work life balance schemes in operation across the Civil Service, including my Department. Requests to participate in the Shorter Working Year scheme are facilitated as far as possible, subject to business requirements.