98. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of staff, and their grade currently, within his Department that are not currently working within his Department due to being seconded to a different Department, EU institution or organisation, or if they are on parental/maternity leave, career break or long-term sick leave, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38311/24]

The below tables include the numbers of staff not current working within the Department of Foreign Affairs due to secondment, maternity leave,  career break, long-term sick leave and parental leave as of 23 September 2024. There are currently no officers on paternity leave as of 23 September 2024.

Officers currently on a secondment to another Department, EU Institution or external organisation (as of 23 September 2024)

Officers currently on a career break (as of 23 September 2024)

Officers currently on long term sick leave (as of 23 September 2024)

Officers currently on maternity leave (as of 23 September 2024)

Officers currently on parents leave (as of 23 September 2024)

The entitlement for Parental Leave, which can be availed of in hours, days or in weekly or monthly blocks, is 130 days (26 weeks). As it is availed of on an on-going basis it is difficult to determine the number of officers availing of parental on a particular date. The table below provides a breakdown by grade of officers who have availed of parental leave this year as of the end of August 2024.

Officers who have availed of parental leave from January 2024 to August 2024