Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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819. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff in her Department on sick leave between March and September by month in 2019 and to date 2020; the pay arrangements that exist for staff on sick leave for an extended period of time; the number of sick days accounted for by her Department over the period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28929/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The administrative arrangements for the Sick Leave Scheme in the Civil Service are set out in Circular 05/2018 – Arrangements for Paid Sick Leave, and operate in conjunction with the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations (SI 124 of 2014) and Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 384 of 2015).

The Sick Leave scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:

- a maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one year period

- followed by a maximum of 91 days on half pay in a rolling one year periods subject to a maximum of 183 days paid sick leave in a rolling four year period

Critical Illness Provisions (CIP) may be provided in exceptional circumstances whereby a longer period of sick leave is required to address a critical illness or physical injury. Sick Leave granted under the Critical Illness Protocol is as follows:

- 183 days on full pay in a rolling year period

- followed by 182 days on half pay subject to a maximum of 365 days in a rolling four year period.

Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (TRR) may be payable to eligible employees, if there is a realistic prospect of a return to work. The following limits apply for the payment of TRR:

- Ordinary sick leave: 547 days on TRR in a rolling 4 year period

- Critical Illness Provisions: 365 days on TRR in a rolling 4 year period with a provision to extend for a further 2 years.

The below table shows the number of staff in my Department on sick leave between March and September, by month, in 2019 and to date 2020. Also shown is the number of sick days accounted for my Department over the period:

Number of Staff on Sick Leave by month, March to September 2019 and to date 2020