515. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of staff vacancies, by grade, in her Department at the end of August 2023 and August 2024; and the number of staff, by grade, on a career break of more than five years and more than six years, at the end of August 2023 and August 2024. [44135/24]

At the end of August 2024, there were 34 approved vacancies in my Department set out in the table below. My Department does not have a grade breakdown of vacancies in August 2023.

In August 2023 there were 7 officers in my Department on Career Break, none of these exceeded 5 years.

In August 2024 there were 5 officers in my Department on Career Break, none of these exceeded 5 years.