Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1847. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development 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. [17785/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 8 staff on sick leave with no staff having disclosed stress as the reason for absence. Employees are not obliged to state the nature of the illness on medical certificates or on the NSSO Human Resources Management System (HRMS) when self-reporting illness and absence.

The number of staff who availed of sick leave in each of the past five years and to date in 2023, is documented below in tabular form.

Note: Figures supplied to my Department by the National Shared Services Office on 12.04.2023

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1848. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development 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 she will detail what actions are being taken by her Department to investigate the allegations, or if they are being investigated. [17803/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19^thJuly 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.

The Department is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation. The key policy in place in this regard is the Dignity at Work Policy. This policy outlines the procedures in place and the steps which individuals may take if they believe that they have been bullied or harassed. All staff are made aware of the contents of this policy and the procedures to be followed as part of the induction process for new employees. This ensures that all members of staff are aware that all forms of bullying and harassment are unacceptable and that every staff member has a duty to behave in an acceptable and respectful manner.

In addition staff may be referred by the Department's HR Manager to the Civil and Public Service Mediation Service, as a means to resolve complaints of bullying and harassment, as appropriate, where local efforts to resolve complaints have been exhausted.

There have been nil bullying or harassment claims made since the formation of my Department.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1849. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Departmental staff dismissed in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [17821/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017.

Since the Department's establishment, I can confirm that there have been no employees dismissed.