Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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74. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Circular 4/2013 are being properly implemented by his Department; if he is satisfied that civil servants whose career breaks are coming to an end are being notified of appropriate vacancies; if he is concerned by instances where civil servants are having their career breaks extended unnecessarily where the Department has appropriate vacancies to fill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44376/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I am fully satisfied that the provisions of Circular 4/2013 (Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service) are being properly implemented by my Department.

Civil servants on career break are required to comply with the provisions of the circular and once a notification of a return from career break is received by my Department, the officer’s assignment is then confirmed.

I am not aware of any recent case where an officer has had a career break extended unnecessarily. When civil servants notify the Department of their intention to return from career break, an offer of a position at their respective grade is made by the Department within the guidelines set out in Circular 4/2013. 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 the circular.