Fórsa has taken a claim to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) seeking the abolition of the option that allows civil service employers to pay reduced mileage rates for attendances at training courses.

Fórsa official Seán Carabini explained that the decision to take the claim was timely, given the transposition of the EU Directive on Transparent and Predictable working and its references to training.

“The issue is simple, Section 37 of the Directive says that such training should count as working time and, where possible, should be carried out during working hours,” he said.

Séan said that Fórsa wants to see the same travel and subsistence rates apply to training.

“The Directive indicates that training should count as working time. We know what the travel and subsistence arrangements are for travel that must be undertaken in conjunction with ‘normal’ work, therefore want to see the same travel and subsistence arrangements apply to training. The Directive supports our position that training is a core part of work and should be treated as such,” he explained.

The claim has been tabled for discussion at the Civil Service General Council and a response is awaited.

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