Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

146. 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 the number of temporary clerical officers who were employed to replace full-time staff on shorter working year in each of the years 2015 and 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30740/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Temporary vacancies arising as a result of this scheme are filled, as required, by redeploying permanent staff or by assigning some of the Temporary Clerical Officers who are recruited for each peak season.