The Louth County Council offices in Dundalk
Absenteeism rates at Louth County Council are amongst the highest in the country, according to newly published figures from the government.
The report from the Local Government Audit Service shows that staff at the local authority in Louth miss an average of 15 days per year – the third highest in the country after Limerick City (17) and Waterford County (just over 15).
That is also above the national average of 12 for local authority employees and much higher than the six days that the average private sector employee misses through illness each year.
The audit relates to figures for 2011 and comes ahead of government measures to halve sick leave entitlements for the public sector.
The changes, due to come into force next month, allow workers three months’ full pay followed by three months’ half pay followed by “temporary rehabilitation pay” for a maximum period of two years for certified sick leave.
Uncertified sick leave will be cut from seven days in any 12-month period to seven days in any two-year period.
Sick leave absences among local authority workers cost €64.64 million in 2011.
