Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1824. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Departmental staff currently on sick or stress leave; and the number who took stress or sick leave in each of the past five years and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [17780/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of staff who took sick leave is in the following table. Due to the relatively low number of employees working in my Department and the consequential risk of identification the number of staff who identified stress as the reason for their absence has not been included in the interest of the protection of employee well-being. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was established in August 2020. During the period from August 2020 to December 2020 administrative arrangements for the Department’s staff were managed by the Department of Education.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1825. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of allegations of bullying made by departmental staff against departmental staff in each of the past five years, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will detail what actions are being taken by his Department to investigate the allegations, or if they are being investigated. [17798/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that in the event that a member of staff in my Department is concerned about bullying at their place of work they are advised of the anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for the Irish Civil Service, entitled "Dignity at Work", which is published by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform.

Since the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in August 2020 to date, my Department has not received any formal bullying allegations which required investigation under the said policy.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1826. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Departmental staff dismissed in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [17816/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Since the establishment of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in August 2020 to date, no officials at my Department have been dismissed from duty.