1739. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an assurance that no civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years where there is a suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond five years on account of there being no suitable vacancy in their home Department or agency, that they have been placed on a redeployment panel; to provide an assurance that, where a civil servant has had their career break extended beyond six years, that consideration has been given to facilitating them on a supernumerary basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46233/24]

My Department currently has six staff members on career breaks.  However, no staff in my department have been on a career break lasting 5 years or longer, therefore no requests for extensions have been received.

In line with Civil Service Circular 04/2013, all staff nearing the end of a career break are required to give two months' notice of their intention to return to work.  This gives my Department suitable notice to find an appropriate vacancy at the same grade for them to return to.  Due to the low number of staff on career break, and the relatively short duration of the breaks, I do not envisage the use of redeployment panels in this context.