A public servant in the Department of An Taoiseach has been on a career break for 12 years, while five other public service employees have been away from their roles for between eight and ten years, according to newly disclosed government data.
In total, 538 employees across various government departments and agencies are currently on career breaks, with more than 50 absent for five years or more.
The figures were revealed in response to parliamentary questions submitted by Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice to each government department.
The Department of Justice has the highest number of employees on career breaks, with 135 staff members currently on leave. This is followed by the Department of Social Protection with 104 employees on career breaks, while the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Agriculture each have 44 employees away from their roles.
The data excludes teachers, health sector workers (HSE employees), and those in semi-State companies.
“If these people were employed in the private sector, they would not be allowed to take such long breaks,” said Mr Fitzmaurice. “People are treated differently in the public service.
“One person has been on a break for 12 years, which is a huge amount of time. It raises serious question marks as to what’s going on in the public service,” he added.
"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," Mr Fitzmaurice said.
"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.
In its response to the parliamentary questions, the Department of the Taoiseach said that at the end of December 2024 an Executive Officer had been on career break for 12 years.
"The Department engages with all staff approaching the end of their career break with a view to facilitating their return to work," the reply stated.
"All career breaks that were extended were done so at the request of the staff member," the Department said.
In total, 538 employees across various government departments and agencies are currently on career breaks, with more than 50 absent for five years or more.
The figures were revealed in response to parliamentary questions submitted by Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice to each government department.
The Department of Justice has the highest number of employees on career breaks, with 135 staff members currently on leave. This is followed by the Department of Social Protection with 104 employees on career breaks, while the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Agriculture each have 44 employees away from their roles.
The data excludes teachers, health sector workers (HSE employees), and those in semi-State companies.
“If these people were employed in the private sector, they would not be allowed to take such long breaks,” said Mr Fitzmaurice. “People are treated differently in the public service.
“One person has been on a break for 12 years, which is a huge amount of time. It raises serious question marks as to what’s going on in the public service,” he added.
"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," Mr Fitzmaurice said.
"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.
In its response to the parliamentary questions, the Department of the Taoiseach said that at the end of December 2024 an Executive Officer had been on career break for 12 years.
"The Department engages with all staff approaching the end of their career break with a view to facilitating their return to work," the reply stated.
"All career breaks that were extended were done so at the request of the staff member," the Department said.
