The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has declined an urgent request from Fórsa to allow a further roll-over of annual leave to facilitate staff who’ve been unable to take all their annual leave because of the pandemic and related work pressures.

The decision came following substantial union engagement in recent weeks. Fórsa’s head of civil service, Derek Mullen, said the union argued the case for a further rollback. But the DPER would not concede it.

“We are still in the process of exiting emergency measures which were introduced across the board in early 2020. Fórsa argued that many civil servants were not able to take their annual leave. Management’s poor response is entirely dismissive of their efforts to keep the ship of state afloat throughout this crisis,” he said.

Derek said that on foot of union concerns, DPER has advised employers that local flexibility may be provided where appropriate.

“Our members have worked tirelessly serving the public throughout the pandemic. While this is disappointing, DPER has agreed that employers can exercise some flexibility outside of the NSSO system, as a local arrangement, to allow for outstanding leave to be used within a defined period beyond the end of March,” he explained.