Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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904. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff who are presently absent from work on full pay due to suspension or workplace disputes in his Department and in agencies and public bodies within his area of responsibility; the number who have been absent from work for up to three, three to six, six to twelve and over twelve months in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17592/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Civil Service Disciplinary Code provides that pending the outcome of an investigation under the auspices of that Code, management may take whatever protective measures it deems necessaryincluding placing a civil servant off duty with pay in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Regulation Act 1956, pending the conclusion of the disciplinary process.

The decision to place an officer off duty with pay is not taken lightly and occurs only after full consideration of its necessity pending a full investigation of the conduct that resulted in its being considered. However, it should be noted that such a measure is not a disciplinary action, nor is it an indication of wrongdoing.

In the Department, one officer is currently off duty with pay and has been so in excess of twelve months.

As absence from duty is an operational matter for the state bodies under the aegis of my Department, I have asked each to provide the data directly to the Deputy within 10 working days.