679. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of civil servants in her Department, and in agencies under the aegis of her Department, who were on career break in 2023 or 2024, by month and grade, and by length of career break; the number of civil servants in her Department and in agencies under the aegis of her Department who were on career break for longer than five years or longer than six years in 2023 or 2024, by month, grade, and length of career break, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46200/24]

The number of officers on Career Break in my Department in 2023 was 11 and in 2024 was 6.  None of these career breaks exceeded 5 years.  The tables below outline details of these career breaks, including by grade and by month.

The total approved duration of the career breaks for officers is also set out in tabular form below.

With regard to staffing in bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for those bodies and not something for which I have direct day-to-day responsibility.