Vol. 515 No. 3
343 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will allow flexibility to second level teachers under the Parental Leave Act, 1998, similar to that available to other State employees, which allows for 14 weeks unpaid leave to look after their children under five years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6226/00]
The Parental Leave Act, 1998, became effective on 3 December 1998. Under the terms of the Act a teacher who is the natural or adoptive parent of a child is entitled to parental leave for a period of 14 working weeks.
Following discussions between representatives of the relevant management organisations, teacher unions and my Department it was agreed that an eligible second level teacher could take parental leave as follows:
as one continuous period of 14 weeks, or in two separate periods of seven weeks, or in a maximum of three separate periods with one of the periods being a minimum of two weeks and a second being a minimum period of four weeks.
In exceptional circumstances a teacher may avail of parental leave where a child has particular medical problems which require the attendance of a parent with the child at a hospital or clinic on a regular basis. In such cases certification from the hospital or clinic in respect of the absence must be submitted to the managerial authority.
