asked the Taoiseach the number of civil servants in his Department who are currently on career breaks; the grades of the officers con cerned and the length of time for which the break was granted in each case; if any persons, while on career breaks, have been retained by his Department on a consultancy basis or any other basis involving financial remuneration; and if so, the numbers involved and the level of remuneration in each case.

Dún Laoghaire): There are four staff of my Department currently on career breaks as follows: 1 assistant principal for a period of two years from 1 October 1984; 1 higher executive officer for a period of one year from 24 September 1984; 1 clerical assistant (typist) for a period of three years from 25 June 1984 and 1 clerical assistant for a period of one year from 19 October 1984.

None of these officers has been retained by my Department on a consultancy basis or any other basis involving financial remuneration.

Would the Minister indicate what purpose these career breaks serve and what value he believes they are to the Civil Service?

(Dún Laoghaire): That information was not requested by the Deputy. I should say that the persons who got these career breaks complied with the criteria laid down by the Department of the Public Service.

The Minister indicated that none of the staff referred to has been re-employed by the Department of the Taoiseach. Could he indicate whether any of them has been employed by any other Government Department or by any of the Dáil committees?

(Dún Laoghaire): That is a separate question.

Might I ask the Minister of State if there is any, even remote, possibility that the Taoiseach himself would take a career break?

The Deputy himself has had one for a few years.

The Deputy has had his career break. If the Taoiseach does, it will be taken in the circumstances in which the Deputy took his.

I am glad to see that the internal pressure is off Deputy Haughey.

Seeing that the Minister of State is not prepared to answer any supplementaries, would he indicate whether he would consider it to be an abuse of the system of career breaks for civil servants to take such a career break and then be re-employed by the Civil Service in another capacity at a higher level of remuneration?

The question does not cover that. The Deputy appears to be availing of the question to discuss the policy of career breaks which does not arise from the question.

(Dún Laoghaire): I have answered the question as tabled by the Deputy. None of the officers concerned has been retained within the Department — which was the question he asked — on a consultancy or any other basis involving financial remuneration.

I want a fairly simple answer — because it must be Government policy — would the Minister of State consider it to be an abuse of the system if a person was re-employed, while on a career break by another Government Department or by any of the Dáil committees?

I am calling Question No. 2.