Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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425. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of personnel on career breaks in the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36204/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The administration of Career Breaks or Special Leave Without Pay and Allowances (SLWPA), is provided for in Defence Force Regulation A11, Paragraph 36. The Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) determines the granting of such leave, which is subject to the exigencies of the service.

The Military authorities have advised that as of 30 September 2020, there are a total of 69 Defence Forces personnel currently availing of a career break, the breakdown of which is set out in the table below:

Members of the Defence Forces may be granted no more than two career breaks over the course of their service in the Permanent Defence Force. Career breaks may be granted for the purposes of domestic responsibilities, further education and travel abroad for periods of not less than six months and not more than five years.

A career break for the purposes of self-employment will consist of special leave without pay and allowances for a period of not less than six months, and not more than three years.