I propose to take Questions Nos. 839, 840 and 841 together.
I can assure the Deputy that where any request received in my Department via the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) from a staff member requesting to return from career break, contact is made with the candidate and an offer is made within the 12-month period after expiry of the career break, in all cases. No officer has been placed on the redeployment panel and there has been no necessity to facilitate an officer on a supernumerary basis.
Figures regarding the numbers of staff on career break by grade and month are tabulated below:
|
2023
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
PO/AP
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
|
HEO
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
12
|
12
|
11
|
11
|
11
|
10
|
10
|
10
|
|
AO
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
|
EO
|
19
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
21
|
23
|
26
|
26
|
26
|
|
CO/SVO
|
42
|
42
|
42
|
44
|
46
|
47
|
47
|
48
|
48
|
49
|
48
|
48
|
|
TOTAL
|
77
|
80
|
80
|
82
|
85
|
86
|
85
|
87
|
90
|
93
|
92
|
91
|
|
2024
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
|
PO/AP
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
|
HEO
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
13
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
14
|
13
|
13
|
|
AO
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
|
EO
|
28
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
30
|
29
|
29
|
29
|
31
|
31
|
|
CO/SVO
|
51
|
50
|
49
|
50
|
49
|
48
|
49
|
49
|
52
|
51
|
52
|
52
|
|
Total
|
98
|
97
|
96
|
99
|
98
|
98
|
100
|
100
|
104
|
102
|
104
|
104
|
To protect individual privacy and prevent inadvertent identification, grades with very low numbers have been merged.
Figures regarding the numbers of vacancies by grade at end of 2023/2024 are tabulated below:
Vacancies by grade at end December 2023
|
Grade
|
Total
|
|
AO
|
3
|
|
AO specialist
|
6
|
|
AP
|
12
|
|
CO
|
157
|
|
EO
|
138
|
|
HEO
|
149
|
|
Grand Total
|
465
|
Vacancies by grade at end December 2024
|
Grade
|
Total
|
|
AO
|
2
|
|
AO Specialist
|
10
|
|
AP
|
31
|
|
CO
|
166
|
|
EO
|
114
|
|
HEO
|
147
|
|
TBC
|
2
|
|
Grand Total
|
472
|
The information requested by the Deputy regarding a breakdown of the career break data by length of individual career break, and a breakdown of the vacancy data by month, cannot be provided within the time available as it would require a disproportionate amount of time and resources to compile.
The volume of relevant data involved and the level of detail requested would necessitate an extensive manual review of records, which is not feasible within this timeline.
However, if the Deputy wishes to refine or narrow the scope of the question(s), we would be happy to provide a more focused response that addresses specific aspects of the query.
