Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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679. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of civil servants in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; the number of civil servants in her Department and in agencies under the aegis of her Department who were on career break for longer than five years or longer than six years in 2023 or 2024, by month, grade, and length of career break, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46200/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The number of officers on Career Break in my Department in 2023 was 11 and in 2024 was 6. None of these career breaks exceeded 5 years. The tables below outline details of these career breaks, including by grade and by month.

The total approved duration of the career breaks for officers is also set out in tabular form below.

With regard to staffing in bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for those bodies and not something for which I have direct day-to-day responsibility.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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680. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her Department, in 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46218/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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The number of vacancies in my Department fluctuates on an ongoing basis. Vacancies arise across all grades due to staff promotions, staff availing of civil service mobility, career breaks, staff retirements and exits.

During 2023, 112 vacancies arose in my Department of which 109 were backfilled. The three vacancies at end of 2023 by grade are as follows:

In 2024, 100 vacancies arose of which 73 vacancies were backfilled. The 27 remaining vacancies by grade are as follows:

A number of vacancies in 2024 arose following staff promotions from internal competitions to Higher Executive Officer and Assistant Principal held during October to December 2024.

The HR Unit in this Department are in the process of filling these vacancies through publicjobs.ie and Civil Service Mobility. A monthly breakdown of vacancies is not available.

With regard to vacancies in bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for those bodies and not something for which I have direct day-to-day responsibility.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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681. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, they have been placed on a redeployment panel; that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46236/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am assured that since the formation of this Department in 2020, no civil servant in this Department has had their career break extended beyond five years. All staff that wished to return from a career break were offered a suitable vacancy.

Career breaks in this Department are managed under the terms of Circular 04/2013 - Career Breaks in the Civil Service.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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682. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of vacancies, by grade, currently within her Department; and the estimated timeframe for filling each of the vacancies, in tabular form. [46386/24]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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There are 17 vacancies in my Department, the majority have arisen following a number of recent internal promotions and staff turnover.

These vacancies will be filled as soon as possible through available recruitment methods for the Civil Service including publicjobs.ie and mobility.