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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Civil Service sickness costs £25m | Civil Service sickness costs £25m |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Sickness absence in the Northern Ireland Civil Service cost £25.6m during the last financial year. | Sickness absence in the Northern Ireland Civil Service cost £25.6m during the last financial year. |
| Workers in the Department for Social Development took nearly four working weeks off sick, whilst those in Regional Development were off 9.2 days. | Workers in the Department for Social Development took nearly four working weeks off sick, whilst those in Regional Development were off 9.2 days. |
| Civil servants took an average of 13.7 annual sick days, a slight rise on the previous year's figure. | Civil servants took an average of 13.7 annual sick days, a slight rise on the previous year's figure. |
| Declan O'Loan, SDLP, said the cost was "unacceptable". The NIO said a plan to tackle sickness had been drawn up. | Declan O'Loan, SDLP, said the cost was "unacceptable". The NIO said a plan to tackle sickness had been drawn up. |
| The figures on sickness for 2006/7 were contained in a report given to a Department of Finance and Personnel committee on Thursday. | The figures on sickness for 2006/7 were contained in a report given to a Department of Finance and Personnel committee on Thursday. |
| AT A GLANCE 12.3% off for more than 20 working days32.7% sick for one dayHighest absence - 18.9 days - among adminstrative officersWorkers take 18.7 sick days in Department for Social Development | |
| It heard that just over 40% of staff had no recorded absences, with a further 32.7% having just one sick day. | It heard that just over 40% of staff had no recorded absences, with a further 32.7% having just one sick day. |
| The high level of absence was mainly due to 12.3% of staff off on long-term sickness - more than 20 consecutive working days. | The high level of absence was mainly due to 12.3% of staff off on long-term sickness - more than 20 consecutive working days. |
| The sickness rate was highest among staff at administrative officer level - 18.9 days - with female officers at this grade accruing 22 sick days. | The sickness rate was highest among staff at administrative officer level - 18.9 days - with female officers at this grade accruing 22 sick days. |
| Mr O'Loan said he understood that there were many "harrowing and difficult" personal situations behind the figures. | Mr O'Loan said he understood that there were many "harrowing and difficult" personal situations behind the figures. |
| "But we can't ignore the reality that far too many days are lost to sickness in the Civil Service," he said. | "But we can't ignore the reality that far too many days are lost to sickness in the Civil Service," he said. |
| Margaret Ritchie's department has the worst sickness record | Margaret Ritchie's department has the worst sickness record |
| "It is far in excess of the private sector. The cost to the taxpayer is not acceptable." | "It is far in excess of the private sector. The cost to the taxpayer is not acceptable." |
| Mr O'Loan said that the main reason for long-term absence was psychiatric or psychological illnesses. | Mr O'Loan said that the main reason for long-term absence was psychiatric or psychological illnesses. |
| The Department of Finance and Personnel said the main problem was the frequency and duration of long-term absence and it was tackling this. | The Department of Finance and Personnel said the main problem was the frequency and duration of long-term absence and it was tackling this. |
| It said the variation in figures between departments was down to differences in terms of grade, gender and age. | It said the variation in figures between departments was down to differences in terms of grade, gender and age. |
| A spokesman added: "Ministers have now agreed a number of actions to be considered by officials, including accrued entitlement to occupational sick pay for new entrants, a focus on rehabilitation and more effective management of those on long-term absence." | A spokesman added: "Ministers have now agreed a number of actions to be considered by officials, including accrued entitlement to occupational sick pay for new entrants, a focus on rehabilitation and more effective management of those on long-term absence." |
| He added that there was a "robust policy on inefficiency which can lead to sanctions, including dismissal". | He added that there was a "robust policy on inefficiency which can lead to sanctions, including dismissal". |