Written answers
Thursday, 26 September 2024
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Departmental Staff
Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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96. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff, and their grade currently, employed within his Department, highlighting if they are employed on a part- or full-time basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38309/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As of 31 August 2024, 2,164 civil servants are employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. 101 officers are currently availing of flexible working options, resulting in a Full Time Equivalent staffing total of 2,129. Details are provided in the table below.
| Grade | Total |
|---|---|
| Assistant Secretary and higher | 32 |
| Principal Officer and equivalent | 130.2 |
| Assistant Principal Officer and equivalent | 382.5 |
| Higher Executive Officer and equivalent | 142.09 |
| Administrative Officer and equivalent | 227 |
| Executive Officer | 281.05 |
| Clerical Officer | 673.15 |
| Tempory Clerical Officer | 208 |
| Services Officer/Cleaner | 44 |
| Political Appointee (inclusive of drivers) | 9 |
| Total | 2128.99 |
Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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97. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of vacancies, including the grade, within his Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38310/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Over the past five years, the Department of Foreign Affairs has grown as Ireland’s diplomatic footprint has expanded and as our Passport Service continues to successfully meet high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target.
The Department now employs 2,164 civil servants, which is 522 more than at the end of 2019.
In that context, we currently have a small number of vacancies to be filled from panels established in recent or planned competitions.
The table below provides details of the civil service vacancies in the Department of Foreign Affairs as of 23 September 2024.
| Grades | Number of Vacancies as of 23 September 2024 |
|---|---|
| Counsellor/Principal Officer | 1 |
| First Secretary/Assistant Principal Officer/Development Specialist | 15 |
| Third Secretary/Administrative Officer/Development Specialist Officer | 9 |
| Higher Executive Officer | 6 |
| Executive Officer | 5 |
| Clerical Officer | 19 |
Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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98. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff, and their grade currently, within his Department that are not currently working within his Department due to being seconded to a different Department, EU institution or organisation, or if they are on parental/maternity leave, career break or long-term sick leave, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38311/24]
Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The below tables include the numbers of staff not current working within the Department of Foreign Affairs due to secondment, maternity leave, career break, long-term sick leave and parental leave as of 23 September 2024. There are currently no officers on paternity leave as of 23 September 2024.
Officers currently on a secondment to another Department, EU Institution or external organisation (as of 23 September 2024)
| Grade | Number of officers |
|---|---|
| Principal Officer & Equivalent | 5 |
| Assistant Principal Officer & Equivalent | 17 |
| Higher Executive Officer & Equivalent | 2 |
| Administrative Officer & Equivalent | 3 |
| Clerical Officer | 1 |
| Total: | 28 |
Officers currently on a career break (as of 23 September 2024)
| Grade | Number of officers |
|---|---|
| Principal Officer & Equivalent | 1 |
| Assistant Principal Officer & Equivalent | 15 |
| Administrative Officer & Equivalent | 3 |
| Executive Officer | 6 |
| Clerical Officer | 23 |
| Total: | 48 |
Officers currently on long term sick leave (as of 23 September 2024)
| Grade | Number of officers |
|---|---|
| Assistant Principal Officer & Equivalent | 2 |
| Higher Executive Officer & Equivalent | 1 |
| Administrative Officer & Equivalent | 1 |
| Executive Officer | 5 |
| Clerical Officer | 16 |
| Total: | 25 |
Officers currently on maternity leave (as of 23 September 2024)
| Grade | Number of officers |
|---|---|
| Assistant Principal Officer & Equivalent | 11 |
| Administrative Officer & Equivalent | 2 |
| Executive Officer | 1 |
| Clerical Officer | 6 |
| Temporary Clerical Officer | 1 |
| Total: | 21 |
Officers currently on parents leave (as of 23 September 2024)
| Grade | Number of officers |
|---|---|
| Assistant Principal Officer & Equivalent | 1 |
| Higher Executive Officer & Equivalent | 1 |
| Executive Officer | 1 |
| Clerical Officer | 2 |
| Total: | 5 |
The entitlement for Parental Leave, which can be availed of in hours, days or in weekly or monthly blocks, is 130 days (26 weeks). As it is availed of on an on-going basis it is difficult to determine the number of officers availing of parental on a particular date. The table below provides a breakdown by grade of officers who have availed of parental leave this year as of the end of August 2024.
Officers who have availed of parental leave from January 2024 to August 2024
| Grade | Number of officers |
|---|---|
| Principal Officer & Equivalent | 7 |
| Assistant Principal Officer & Equivalent | 22 |
| Higher Executive Officer & Equivalent | 7 |
| Administrative Officer & Equivalent | 4 |
| Executive Officer | 16 |
| Clerical Officer (including TCO) | 37 |
| Services Officer | 1 |
| Total: | 94 |
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