Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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125. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of vacancies, by grade, in her Department at the end of August 2023 and August 2024; the number of staff, by grade, on career break for more than five years; and the number of staff, by grade, on career break for more than six years at those same times. [43325/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In respect of the information sought by the Deputy, it is set out in the tables below. Unfortunately, my Department does not have a grade breakdown of vacancies at the end of August 2023.

At the end of August 2024, my Department held the vacancies tabled below.

Staff on Career Breaks - end August 2023

Staff on Career Breaks - end August 2024

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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126. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 who were notified of an appropriate vacancy in accordance with paragraph 39 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43386/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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127. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 where there was no appropriate vacancy in accordance with paragraph 39 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the post was put on a redeployment panel in accordance with paragraph 40 of the 2013 Career Break Circular from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43387/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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128. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 when it was not possible to make a reasonable offer within the 12 month period after the expiry of the career break; the number of staff in that situation where the possibility of facilitating the civil servant on a supernumerary basis was explored in accordance with paragraph 41 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43388/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of times in 2023 and 2024 in which no offer was made to staff within the Department within the 12-month period after the expiry of the career break, where the post was not put on a redeployment panel and where facilitating the civil servant on a supernumeracy basis was not explored; the reason for such inaction, if any; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43389/24]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is aware of the hardship caused to staff on career break in her Department by the practice of extending career breaks beyond five and six years, while there are appropriate vacancies unfilled; if she considers that it is fair to the staff to impose considerable hardship on them unnecessarily; if she realises that the staff who find themselves in these circumstances are being deprived of income, service and pension entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43401/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 130, inclusive, together.

In 2023 and 2024 to date there have been 18 staff who have been notified of an appropriate vacancy in accordance with paragraph 39 of the 2013 circular Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

In 2023 and 2024 to date no post in the Department of Social Protection has been put on the redeployment panel.

In 2023 and to date in 2024 any request received in Social Protection from the NSSO regarding a staff member requesting to return from career break, contact has been made with the candidate and an offer has been made within the 12-month period after expiry of the career break.

DSP typically does not extend career breaks beyond five years. However, such extensions may be considered, in exceptional circumstances, upon request from the staff member, and following the Career Break circular guidelines and procedures