Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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15. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of civil servants in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his 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 his/her Department and in agencies under the aegis of his 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [46191/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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; to provide an assurance 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, that they have been placed on a redeployment panel; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, that consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46227/24]

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.

The tables below indicate the number of officers of career break across 2023 and 2024, and the duration of these career breaks.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of vacancies, by month and by grade, in his Department, and in agencies under the aegis of his Department, in 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46209/24]

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-December 2024, the Department employs 2,271 civil servants, which is 629 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, by month, across 2023 and 2024.