Auditors note absenteeism improvement

ABSENTEEISM rates in Derry City Council have significantly improved a new audit report has noted.

In its Annual Audit Letter to the local authority the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) noted that whilst the rate of absence here is still higher than the Northern Ireland average it did improve over the past year.

Local Government Auditor Alfred Knox noted: "The 2008-09 absenteeism figure for the Council is 16.51 days. This represents a reduction of 3.35 days on the previous year.

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"Derry City Council's three-year absenteeism rate has increased by 0.46 days from 17.33 days in 2003-06 to 17.79 days in 2006-09. "Whilst it is still higher than the Northern Ireland average for this latter three year period we note the significant improvement on the previous year."

A 2008-09 absenteeism study was published in December 2009, analysing the rate of absence for each council over the three year period (2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09) and derived an average annual absenteeism rate for this period.

Mr Knox states: "This analysis counters the impact of annual fluctuations in absenteeism which would distort the findings, particularly within smaller councils.

"The Chief Local Government Auditor recommended that councils monitor their absenteeism regularly as part of an ongoing process of absenteeism management. "