Public sector sick pay cut saves €50m

A halving of sick pay for public sector workers last year resulted in an extra 260,000 days being worked and a saving of over €50m for the taxpayer.

However, there are still huge gaps between workers in different sectors taking sick leave. Civil servants in shared services and children and youth affairs have the highest rates, taking at least 13 sick days a year.

Figures released by Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin yesterday show reductions in absenteeism rates between 2013 and 2014.