Departmental Staff

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Ceisteanna (679)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

679. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of civil servants in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her 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 her Department and in agencies under the aegis of her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [46200/24]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Catherine Martin)

The number of officers on Career Break in my Department in 2023 was 11 and in 2024 was 6. None of these career breaks exceeded 5 years. The tables below outline details of these career breaks, including by grade and by month.

Grade	2023 - Number of Officers on Career Break by Month	2024 - Number of Officers on Career Break by Month
Administrative Officer	1 officer (Jan-July 2023)	n/a
Assistant Principal Officer	1 officer (Jan-Dec 2023)	1 officer (Jan-Dec 2024)
Clerical Officer	2 officers: (officer 1 Jan-Apr 2023) (officer 2 - Jan-Dec 2023)	1 officer (Jan-Dec 2024)
Executive Officer	6 officers: (1 officer returned Jan 2023) (2 officers returned March 2023) (3 officers Jan-Dec 2023)	4 officers: (Jan-Dec 2024)
Higher Executive Officer	1 officer: (Jan-Dec 2023)	n/a
Grand Total	11	6

The total approved duration of the career breaks for officers is also set out in tabular form below.

Total Approved Duration of officers on Career Breaks in 2023 and 2024 by Grade	1 Year	3 Years	3 Years 6 Months	4 Years	5 Years
Administrative Officer	1
Assistant Principal Officer					1
Clerical Officer	1			1
Executive Officer		3	1	1	1
Higher Executive Officer					1

With regard to staffing in bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for those bodies and not something for which I have direct day-to-day responsibility.