It has emerged that a civil servant in the Department of the Taoiseach has been on a career break for 12 years.
The information was contained in responses to parliamentary questions about career breaks submitted to various Government departments by Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice.
Also in the Department of the Taoiseach, an assistant principal officer has had an extended career break of five years.
In the Department of Agriculture, a superintending veterinary inspector has been on a career break for 10 years, a research officer has had a career break of eight years, and several inspectors and clerical officers have been on breaks of five years or more.
In the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment, two civil servants had career breaks extending beyond six years.
Mr Fitzmaurice has called for a full review of the career break system, with strict limits placed on how long a break can be extended and clearer rules.
"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.
