People on social media can hardly believe revelations that are coming out of government lately.
It has come to light that a Department of the Taoiseach public official has been taking a 12-yr professional hiatus, reports RTE.
Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice provided the material in answers to parliamentary queries on career breaks that he filed to several government ministries.
A five-year professional hiatus has also been taken by an assistant principal officer in the Department of the Taoiseach, reports RTE.
The Department of Agriculture has seen a 10-year career break for a superintending veterinary inspector, an 8-year career break for a research officer, and five-year or longer sabbatical for a number of inspectors and clerical officers.
Two federal workers at the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment took more than six-year career interruptions.
Mr. Fitzmaurice has demanded that the career break system be thoroughly reviewed, with clearer guidelines and stringent restrictions on the length of time that a sabbatical may be prolonged, reports RTE.
“In the private sector, career breaks are facilitated occasionally, but no business could function with employees disappearing for six months to 12 years, while still having a position held open for them,” said Fitzmaurice, reports RTE.
“It defies logic that the civil service continues to operate in this manner, with hundreds of positions left in limbo, causing major staffing and operational issues,” he added, reports RTE.
The Department of the Taoiseach responded to the parliamentary queries by stating that an Executive Officer has been on a 12-year career sabbatical as of the end of December 2024.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
