Most of those on sick leave were off for five days or less

The government is determined to address the "unacceptably high" level of sick days within the Northern Ireland Civil Service, a minister has said.

On average, staff in the various departments were off sick for 15.4 days or 7% of the available working days during the 2002/2003 financial year.

The majority of absences were short-term, lasting for five working days or less, with almost 33% of staff having had no recorded sick absence during the year.

The vast majority of working days lost, 76.9%, were due to a relatively small proportion of staff, 15.4%.

The findings were contained in a report published on Friday which analysed sickness in the civil service.

Finance Minister Ian Pearson said he was "acutely aware" of the problems associated with the "high levels of sickness absence" in the Northern Ireland.

He added: "This comprehensive report demonstrates very clearly the extent of the problems across the Northern Ireland departments and, despite the significant efforts of departments, there has been a marginal increase in the level of sickness absence.

"The government remains committed to tackling the problem of high sickness absence in the public sector generally.

Stress far outstrips all other categories in the government's league table of reasons for sick absence and there has been a significant increase in reported cases of work-related stress Kieran Bannon NIPSA

"My ministerial colleagues and I are determined to address this unacceptably high level of sickness absence and will be working closely with officials to examine the report in detail and consider what further action needs to be taken."

He said the report showed that more than three quarters of all working days lost due to sickness were attributable to a small number of staff.

"As an employer, the Northern Ireland Civil Service has done much to address the well-being of its workforce and to manage better the health of employees," he said.

"Progressive policies have been, and continue to be developed, to both educate and support staff. "

NIPSA Assistant General Secretary Kieran Bannon said the figures were certainly a concern because they showed that NIPSA members in the civil service were suffering from relatively high rates of illness.

However, Mr Bannon said that it was important to look behind the statistics at the underlying causes of the problem.

"It is apparent that stress, as a cause of illness, far outstrips all other categories in the government's league table of reasons for sick absence and there has been a significant increase in reported cases of work-related stress," he said.

The fourth annual report, which was completed by the Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency, provides an analysis of sickness absence statistics for non-industrial staff in Northern Ireland departments.

The analysis and interpretation of the detailed sickness absence data has led to a range of corporate and departmental initiatives aimed at reducing sick absence levels.