Sick-leave restrictions introduced for staff in the public service in 2014 generated savings of more than €50 million, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has stated.

However, the cost of sick leave across the public service, which employs about 300,000 staff, is still almost €320 million annually.

Under reforms introduced by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin in 2014, sick leave certified by a doctor for personnel with non-critical illnesses was effectively halved. Now they are entitled to three months on full pay, followed by three months on half pay in any four-year period.

A department spokeswoman said: “The savings figure is based on calendar year 2014, which captures a partial application of the new scheme which was introduced on March 31st, 2014, for the majority of the public service.

“The new scheme commenced for the education sector on September 1st, 2014. Statistics and savings for 2015 will be compiled in the new year,” the spokeswoman added.

“The recent Garda Inspectorate report states that the achieved reduction of three days sickness, per member, per year is the equivalent to hiring an additional 236 members.”

For staff with critical illnesses, previous arrangements of six months paid sick leave, followed by six months on half pay, remained in place.

Uncertified sick leave for public service staff was cut from seven days in any 12- month period to seven days in any two-year period.

Reduced

In a document prepared for the recent appearance of its secretary general before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform said the rate of sick leave across the public service had been reduced by 0.3 per cent to 4 per cent.

“The number of days lost to sick leave per full-time equivalent is 8.7 days, a reduction in average days lost of 0.8 days, between 2013 and 2014 when the new reforms came into effect.”

The department said that as a result of the reduction in sick leave, there were approximately 260,000 additional days worked by public servants in 2014 in comparison with 2013.

It said the cost of sick leave across the public service was estimated at €319 million in 2014, a reduction of €51.5 million, or 14 per cent, on 2013.

A review of the sick-leave reforms is currently under way. It is seeking to evaluate the effectiveness of the new arrangements put in place in 2014 and to address any operational difficulties that have arisen.