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Dáil Éireann - Volume 413 - 19 November, 1991

Written Answers. - Job-Sharing Career Break Scheme.

33. Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline, within the area [62] of responsibility of his Department and covering each year from the commencement of the job-sharing and career break scheme (a) the total number of applications received and (b) the total granted and not granted; if he will give a breakdown of the grades involved under each heading and the reasons some applications were turned down; and if his Department has plans to extend the job sharing scheme from working halved hours to a system which facilitates the workers' requirements; and if not, the reason therefor.

Minister for Labour (Mr. O'Kennedy): I propose to provide for the information requested by the Deputy in the tabular statement below, which will be made available to Deputies. The tabular statement also shows the position in relation to seconded staff in An Foras Áiseanna Saothair FÁS and the Health and Safety Authority — HSA — which are bodies under the aegis of my Department.

With regard to the last part of this question, I should point out that the job-sharing scheme, as it operates in my Department, is not as restrictive as is implied in the question. Staff on job-sharing have the choice of a wide variety of working arrangements to suit their particular needs. In addition, most staff on job-sharing also enjoy the benefits of a system of flexible working hours which affords considerable latitude in the organisation of their hours of attendance. The job-sharing scheme was agreed centrally between the Civil Service unions and the Department of Finance and any amendments to the scheme would be for negotiation between those parties.

Job-Sharing Scheme.

Department.

[63][64]Year

Grade

Applications Received

Applications Granted

Applications Refused

1984

Industrial Inspector

1

0

Higher Executive Officer

1

1

0

Placement Officer

2

0

Executive Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Assistant

6

5

0

1985

Placement Officer

1

0

Clerical Officer

3

3

0

Clerical Assistant

15

9

0

1986

Executive Officer

2

2

0

Clerical Officer

1

0

Clerical Assistant

6

5

0

1987

Higher Executive Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Officer

2

2

0

Clerical Assistant

8

6

0

1988

Clerical Assistant

2

1

0

1989

Executive Officer

2

2

0

Clerical Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Assistant

2

2

0

1990

Clerical Officer

4

4

0

1991

Executive Officer

1

1

0

Staff on Secondment to FÁS from 1 January 1988.

Year

Grade

Applications Received

Applications Granted

Applications Refused

1988

Nil

Nil

1989

Higher Executive Officer

1

0

Clerical Assistant

3

3

0

1990

Clerical Assistant

2

1

1*

1991

Nil

Nil

Staff on Secondment to HSA from 1 November 1989.

Year

Grade

Applications Received

Applications Granted

Applications Refused

1989

Nil

Nil

1990

Clerical Assistant

1

1

0

1991

Clerical Officer

1

0

*One job sharing application was refused by FÁS on the grounds that the job was unsuitable for sharing.

Note: Some officers failed to get suitable partners, while others withdrew their applications.

Career Break Scheme.

Department.

[65][66]Year

Grade

Applications Received

Applications Granted

Applications Refused

1984

Assistant Principal

2

2

0

Clerical Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Assistant

13

13

0

Assistant Regional Director

1

1

0

Placement Officer

1

1

0

1985

Higher Executive Officer

1

1

0

Executive Officer

6

6

0

Clerical Officer

4

4

0

Clerical Assistant

12

12

0

Placement Officer

1

1

0

Industrial Inspector

1

1

0

1986

Administrative Officer

1

1

0

Executive Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Assistant

17

17

0

HEO/Placement Officer

3

3

0

1987

Assistant Principal

1

—

1 (a)

Executive Officer

3

3

0

Clerical Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Assistant

11

11

0

HEO/Placement Officers

2

2

0

Industrial Inspector

1

1

0

1988

Assistant Principal

2

1

1 (a)

Executive Officer

2

2

0

Clerical Officers

1

1

0

Clerical Assistants

16

16

0

1989

Higher Executive Officer

1

1

0

Executive Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Officer

2

2

0

Clerical Assistant

5

3

2 (b)

Industrial Inspector

1

1

0

1990

Administrative Officer

1

1 (c)

Executive Officer

3

3

0

Staff Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Assistant

2

2

0

1991

Executive Officer

1

1

0

Staff Officer

1

1

0

Staff on Secondment to FÁS from 1 January 1988.

Year

Grade

Applications Received

Applications Granted

Applications Refused

1988

Higher Executive Officer

1

1

0

Clerical Assistant

3

3

0

1989

Nil

Nil

1990

Clerical Assistant

1

1

0

1991

Nil

Nil

[67]1990

Industrial Inspector

1

1 (c)

1991

Clerical Assistant

1

1

0

Career Break Applications Refused.

(a)Two officers applied for career breaks and were refused because they were specialist staff and could not be placed within a reasonable period having regard to work requirements.

(b)Two officers applied for career breaks in 1989 to travel abroad. They were refused on the grounds that career breaks were not allowed for that purpose at that time. Career breaks have been given since 1 October 1990 for travel abroad.

(c)Two officers applied for career breaks to take alternative employment in Ireland, they were refused on the grounds that career breaks are not allowed for that purpose.

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