Absenteeism In Northern Ireland Councils 2009 10

The Chief Local Government Auditor reports on absenteeism based on data requested from the 26 councils on an annual basis. The data is analysed over a three year period to counter the impact of annual fluctuations in absenteeism which could distort findings particularly within smaller councils. In 2009-10, Northern Ireland councils employed over 9,800 staff at a cost of £299 million. Staff costs account for 42% of the councils' expenditure. The report sets out a number of main findings and recommendations, including: Northern Ireland councils as a whole lost almost 122,000 days to absenteeism in 2009-10, an increase of around 700 days compared to 2008-09; there is a resultant absenteeism rate of 12.39 days for each full time equivalent employee which reflects a marginal reduction of 0.04 days. This absenteeism rate for all Northern Ireland councils is now lower than any annual rate recorded this decade with a reduction of 16%. Stress, depression, mental health and fatigue remains the largest cause of days lost due to absenteeism, responsible for 22% of days lost in 2009-10, down 1% from 2008-09. As in previous reports, the NIAO recommends that councils with high and rising absenteeism rates should review their own management practices and benchmark these against those councils with low and falling absenteeism rates. In general there was an improvement in the quality of absenteeism data presented by the councils.

This report examines the relative position of absenteeism within Northern Ireland councils and considers absenteeism for the sector as a whole when compared with other employment sectors. When viewed as lost productivity, absenteeism in Northern Ireland councils cost £15.5m in 2006-07. For 2006-07 Northern Ireland councils as a whole had an average absenteeism rate of 13.82 days. This rate has increased marginally when compared to the 2005-06 rate of 13.73 days. The 2006-07 absenteeism rate for Northern Ireland councils remains lower than the rates recorded for the years 2002-03 to 2004-05. This increase in lost productivity represents 4,000 additional days absence (125,000 in 2005-06, 129,000 in 2006-07). A comparison of the councils' 2006-07 absenteeism rate with some other employment sectors shows that Northern Ireland councils as a sector continues to have a high absenteeism rate. The absenteeism rate for Northern Ireland councils is, however, marginally lower than the Northern Ireland Health Service. Stress, depression, mental health and fatigue remain the largest cause of absenteeism, responsible for one fifth of days lost in both 2005-06 and 2006-07. Lost productivity due to stress related absence cost Northern Ireland councils £3.1m in 2006-07.

The Stationery Office annual catalogue 2011 provides a comprehensive source of bibliographic information on over 4900 Parliamentary, statutory and official publications - from the UK Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and many government departments and agencies - which were issued in 2011.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee today publishes its report on the Consultative Group on the Past in Northern Ireland Report (HCP 171, session 2009-10, ISBN 9780215542687). This report concludes the Committee's inquiry into the feasibility of implementing the proposals made in the Report of the Consultative Group on the Past in Northern Ireland. The Committee reached the following conclusions, including: that Northern Ireland has not yet reached a consensus on how to move on from its recent past; also, it is not clear that Northern Ireland needs a Legacy Commission when bodies such as the Victims and Survivors Commission and the Historical Enquiries Team are already dealing in different ways with aspects of the legacy of the Troubles; that healthcare services, particularly mental health services, for those affected by the Troubles are under strong pressure; that any future Legacy Commission should be chaired, or co-chaired, by figures from Northern Ireland rather than by a foreign figurehead; that the Northern Ireland Assembly, rather than the UK Government, should ultimately be responsible for decisions on how to fund a Legacy Commission - and therefore on the width of its remit; and that clarification is required on what role the Irish Government would play in setting up such a Commission, and in particular on what financial contribution it would be expected to make.

Eighth report of Session 2009-10 : Documents considered by the Committee on 20 January 2010, including the following recommendations for debate, Enlargement strategy and main challenges 2009-2010; CSDP: piracy off the coast of Somalia; Financial managemen

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