AQW 18786/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 22/01/2013
Answered On Date: 06/02/2013
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) the number of civil servants from his Department who have left work early since 3 December 2012 due to the civil unrest associated with the flag protests; and (ii) the associated financial cost to his departmental budget.

Answer:

The NICS is fully aware of its responsibility to maintain a service to the public and every effort is made to keep its offices open for business.

Business continuity and staff safety are the key issues to be assessed when considering office closure. My Department has a process in place outlining the appropriate steps to take when considering office closure. Managers monitor the situation locally and if they foresee any security, safety or transport related difficulties for staff, decide on the appropriate action to take in light of the information available within the rules of the Flexible Working Time - Code of Practice.

Since 3rd December all DEL Headquarter buildings have been closed at 5pm on a small number of occasions. Under the NICS Flexible Working Time scheme, staff are able to vary times of arrival and departure from work, the length and timing of lunch breaks and to take time off if extra hours are worked. As staff were able to avail of flexible working to leave at 4 p.m. on the days where DEL Headquarter buildings were closed at 5 p.m., there is no associated financial cost to my departmental budget.