Departmental Staff

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Questions (70)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

70. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications 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. [46225/24]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Eamon Ryan)

I can confirm to the Deputy that in my term as Minister that no civil servant had their career break extended beyond five years where there was a suitable vacancy in my Department.

In the case where a civil servant had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy, this was to facilitate the redeployment/transfer of this civil servant.

My Department had two cases where a civil servant had their career break extended beyond six years. Consideration was not given to facilitating either officer on a supernumerary basis as neither civil servant indicated they wished to return to my Department and the matter was addressed through resignation and the aforementioned redeployment/transfer, respectively.