Public sector sick days cost State over €380m in 2018

Sick days across the public sector cost the State over €380m last year, according to figures released by the Department of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform.

While this is a €40m rise on 2017’s figures, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has attributed the increase to pay restoration and growing numbers working in the public sector. The department says there has been a cumulative saving of €156m since 2013, the year before cross-sector reform of sick leave in the public service was introduced.