Written answers
Wednesday, 22 January 2025
Department of Finance
Departmental Staff
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
318. To ask the Minister for Finance 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 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. [46190/24]
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
320. To ask the Minister for Finance 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, that 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 he will make a statement on the matter. [46226/24]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 318 and 320 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department grants career breaks to staff in line with the parameters of Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 4 of 2013. The Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service affords flexibility to staff and employers by allowing staff to apply to take a period of special leave without pay for a period of not less than six months and not more than five years, if taken for reasons of family, domestic, travel or educational purposes.
A career break may be extended in six monthly periods or in periods in excess of six months provided the total period of special leave without pay does not exceed the maximum permitted. Subject to certain conditions, eligible staff may in general avail of three career breaks during their career provided the total period does not exceed twelve years.
My Department includes scheduled returnees from Career Breaks in its workforce planning processes. Staff are granted extensions to career breaks in exceptional circumstances, as provided for in the Circular. This has not impacted on its ability to fill any vacancies in the Department.
The decision to grant or refuse a career break to an applicant will be the decision of the HR Manager/Head of Department and is based on the organisational needs of the Department.
The number of civil servants in my Department, who were on career break in 2023 and 2024 is set out in the below tables.
In 2023 (Table A), 2 Clerical Officers (CO), 12 Administrative officers (AO), 3 Assistant Principals (AP), and 1 Principal Officer (PO) were on career break. There were no staff on a career break of more than five years in 2023.
In 2024 (Table B), 1 Clerical Officer (CO), 9 Administrative officers (AO), 2 Executive Officers (EO), 1 Higher Executive Officer (HEO), 4 Assistant Principals (AP) and 1 Principal Officer (PO) were on career break. In 2024, 1 PO, 1 AP and 1 CO were on a career break for over five years.
There were no staff in my Department on career break for more than six years in 2023 and 2024.
The bodies under the aegis of my Department have provided the information requested in the attached document.
">Response
Table A
| Grade | Career Break Started (Month) | Length of Career Break to Date (Years) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-23 | Feb-23 | Mar-23 | Apr-23 | May-23 | Jun-23 | Jul-23 | Aug-23 | Sep-23 | Oct-23 | Nov-23 | Dec-23 | ||
| AO | Nov-18 | 4.17 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.42 | 4.50 | 4.58 | 4.67 | 4.75 | 4.84 | 4.92 | 5.00 | |
| AO | Feb-19 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 4.08 | 4.16 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.41 | 4.50 | 4.58 | 4.67 | 4.75 | 4.83 |
| AO | Aug-20 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.58 | 2.67 | 2.75 | 2.83 | 2.92 | 3.00 | 3.08 | 3.17 | 3.25 | 3.33 |
| AO | Apr-22 | 0.75 | 0.84 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 1.08 | 1.17 | 1.25 | 1.33 | 1.42 | 1.50 | 1.59 | 1.67 |
| AO | Jul-22 | 0.50 | 0.59 | 0.67 | 0.75 | 0.83 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 1.08 | 1.17 | 1.25 | 1.34 | 1.42 |
| AO | Oct-22 | 0.25 | 0.34 | 0.41 | 0.50 | 0.58 | 0.67 | 0.75 | 0.83 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 1.08 | 1.17 |
| AO | Jan-23 | 0.08 | 0.16 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.41 | 0.50 | 0.58 | 0.67 | 0.75 | 0.83 | 0.92 | |
| AO | Apr-23 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.59 | 0.67 | ||||
| AO | Apr-23 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.59 | 0.67 | ||||
| AO | May-23 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.34 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.59 | |||||
| AO | Oct-23 | 0.08 | 0.17 | ||||||||||
| AO | Nov-23 | 0.08 | |||||||||||
| AP | Sep-18 | 4.34 | 4.42 | 4.50 | 4.58 | 4.67 | 4.75 | 4.83 | 4.92 | 5.00 | |||
| AP | Sep-19 | 3.34 | 3.42 | 3.50 | 3.58 | 3.67 | 3.75 | 3.83 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 4.08 | 4.17 | 4.25 |
| AP | May-21 | 1.67 | 1.76 | 1.83 | 1.92 | 2.00 | 2.08 | 2.17 | 2.25 | 2.34 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.59 |
| CO | Nov-18 | 4.17 | 4.25 | 4.33 | 4.42 | 4.50 | 4.58 | 4.67 | 4.75 | 4.84 | 4.92 | 5.00 | |
| CO | Apr-19 | 3.76 | 3.84 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 4.08 | 4.17 | 4.25 | 4.34 | 4.42 | 4.50 | 4.59 | 4.67 |
| PO | Jul-19 | 3.51 | 3.59 | 3.67 | 3.75 | 3.84 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 4.09 | 4.17 | 4.25 | 4.34 | 4.42 |
Table B
| Grade | Career Break Started (Month) | Length of Career Break to Date (Years) | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan-24 | Feb-24 | Mar-24 | Apr-24 | May-24 | Jun-24 | Jul-24 | Aug-24 | Sep-24 | Oct-24 | Nov-24 | Dec-24 | ||
| AO | Aug-20 | 3.42 | 3.50 | 3.58 | 3.67 | 3.75 | 3.84 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 4.09 | 4.17 | 4.25 | 4.34 |
| AO | Aug-20 | 3.42 | 3.50 | 3.58 | 3.67 | 3.75 | 3.84 | 3.92 | 4.00 | 4.09 | 4.17 | 4.25 | 4.34 |
| AO | May-21 | 2.67 | 2.76 | 2.84 | 2.92 | 3.00 | 3.09 | 3.17 | 3.25 | 3.34 | 3.42 | 3.51 | 3.59 |
| AO | Apr-22 | 1.75 | 1.84 | 1.92 | 2.00 | 2.08 | 2.17 | 2.25 | 2.34 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.59 | 2.67 |
| AO | Jan-23 | 1.00 | 1.08 | 1.16 | 1.25 | 1.33 | 1.42 | 1.50 | 1.58 | 1.67 | 1.75 | 1.84 | 1.92 |
| AO | May-23 | 0.67 | 0.76 | 0.84 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 1.09 | 1.17 | 1.25 | 1.34 | 1.42 | 1.51 | 1.59 |
| AO | Nov-23 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.58 | 0.67 | 0.75 | 0.84 | 0.92 | 1.00 | 1.08 |
| AO | Jan-24 | 0.08 | 0.16 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.58 | 0.67 | 0.75 | 0.84 | 0.92 | |
| AO | May-24 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.34 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.59 | |||||
| AP | Sep-19 | 4.34 | 4.42 | 4.50 | 4.59 | 4.67 | 4.75 | 4.84 | 4.92 | 5.01 | 5.09 | 5.17 | 5.25 |
| AP | May-21 | 2.67 | 2.76 | 2.84 | 2.92 | 3.00 | 3.09 | 3.17 | 3.25 | 3.34 | 3.42 | 3.51 | 3.59 |
| AP | Mar-24 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.59 | 0.67 | 0.75 | |||
| AP | Aug-24 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | ||||||||
| CO | Apr-19 | 4.76 | 4.84 | 4.92 | 5.01 | 5.09 | 5.17 | 5.25 | 5.34 | 5.42 | 5.51 | 5.59 | 5.67 |
| EO | Apr-24 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.50 | 0.59 | 0.67 | ||||
| EO | Aug-24 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | ||||||||
| HEO | Jun-24 | 0.08 | 0.17 | 0.25 | 0.33 | 0.42 | 0.50 | ||||||
| PO | Jul-19 | 4.51 | 4.59 | 4.67 | 4.76 | 4.84 | 4.92 | 5.01 | 5.09 | 5.18 | 5.26 | 5.34 | 5.42 |
Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
319. To ask the Minister for Finance 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. [46208/24]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
The HR Unit in my Department keeps track of current vacancies and saves a snapshot of this information every quarter. Tables A and B below show the number of vacancies in the Department, by grade, in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
The bodies under the aegis of my Department have provided the information requested in the attached document.
">Response
Table A
| Quarter | Assistant Secretary | Principal Officer | Assistant Principal | Administrative Officer | Higher Executive Officer | Executive Officer | Clerical Officer | Service Officer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Table B
| Quarter | Assistant Secretary | Principal Officer | Assistant Principal | Administrative Officer | Higher Executive Officer | Executive Officer | Clerical Officer | Service Officer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 21 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
No comments