Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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70. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff vacancies, by grade, in his Department at the end of August 2023 and August 2024; and the number of staff, by grade, on a career break of more than five years and more than six years, at the end of August 2023 and August 2024. [44126/24]

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.

As of end-September 2024, the Department employs 2,181 civil servants, which is 539 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 outlines the vacancies in the Department at the end of August 2023 and the end of August 202.

The Department of Foreign Affairs does not extend career breaks beyond five years. In exceptional circumstances an officer may be granted an additional career break without the required period of service between career breaks, in line with the procedures outlined in Circular 4/2013: Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service.