Departmental Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025

• Debates
• Find a debate
  • Dáil debates
  • Seanad debates
  • Committee debates
• Find a vote
  • Dáil votes
  • Seanad votes
  • Committee votes
• Parliamentary questions
  • Written questions
  • Oral questions
• Search tips
• Utterances having an adverse effect

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Questions (706, 708)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

706. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [46194/24]

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

708. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage 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. [46230/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 708 together.

I am satisfied that my Department properly implements the provisions of Circular 4/2013 in respect of staff returning from career breaks.  Staff returning from career breaks are included in workforce planning considerations with a view to filling any appropriate existing or forthcoming vacancies in my Department.  The Department has reassigned any staff returning from career breaks during this period without any undue delays.  Any extensions to career breaks granted were requested by staff members.

The information requested in respect of staff on career breaks in 2023 and 2024 is set out in tabular form below.  One staff member was on a career break for longer than 5 years in 2023 but subsequently resigned in 2024.

Grade	End 2023	Length of Career Break	End 2024	Length of Career Break
HEO	2	7 yrs 5 mths 2 yrs 3 mths	0	Both staff members resigned during 2024
AO	3	2 yrs 2 mths 1 yr 4 mths 6 mths	3	3 yrs 2 mths 2 yrs 4 mths 1 yr 6 mths
EO	3	9 mths 6 mths 1 mth	7	1 yr 9 mths 1 yr 6 mths 1 yr 1 mth 8 mths 4 mths 4 mths 2 wks
CO	3	2 yrs 9 mths 2 yrs 11 mths	5	3 yrs 9 mths 2 yrs 10 mths (Ended October 2024) 1 yr 11 mths 10 mths 3 weeks
Meteorological Officer	1	2 mths	2	10 mths (Ended August 2024) 1 yr (Started 2nd January 2024)
Meteorologist	0		1	6 mths (Ended October 2024)
Conservation Ranger	0		1	1 mth
Total	12		21

The details requested in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned.  Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information by State Bodies directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email addresses for each agency are set out in the table below:

Bodies under the Aegis of DHLGH	Oireachtas email
An Bord Pleanála	[e-mail]
An Fóram Uisce	[e-mail]
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority	[e-mail]
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum	[e-mail]
Electoral Commission	[e-mail]
Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Heritage Council	[e-mail]
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Land Development Agency	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
National Oversight and Audit Commission	[e-mail]
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee	[e-mail]
Office of the Planning Regulator	[e-mail]
Pyrite Resolution Board	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Tailte Éireann	[e-mail]
Uisce Éireann	[e-mail]
Valuation Tribunal	[e-mail]
Waterways Ireland	[e-mail]

• Previous Answer
• Next Answer