Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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330. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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. [44373/24]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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My Department, in conjunction with the National Shared Services Office, ensures that the provisions of Circular 04/2013 are properly implemented and I am satisfied that this is the case.

To secure an offer of work, civil servants must indicate at least two months before the end of their career break that they wish to return to work. My Department works with returning officers to agree a return date. Consideration is given to the business needs of the Department and returning officers are notified of their assignment in advance of their return.

In accordance with the circular, it may not be possible to facilitate the return to work of a civil servant on career break in a relevant grade for up to twelve months after the end date of the career break.

In my Department, no officers have had their career break unnecessarily extended where there have been vacancies, at the appropriate grade, to fill.