Frances Fitzgerald
Question:83 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance the policy of his Department regarding family friendly working choices in the public service, such as flexitime, a reduced working week and so on. [9831/97]
Written Answers. - Public Service Working Choices.
As the Deputy will be aware, conditions of employment in the Civil Service are the responsibility of my Department. The Civil Service has for many years had working options which are family friendly.
A job sharing scheme was introduced in the Civil Service in 1984. Under the terms of the scheme two members of staff share the duties and responsibilities of one job in return for half the pay and benefits. The decision whether a post is suitable for job sharing is a matter for each head of department. At the end of 1996, there were over 2,200 members of staff job sharing, representing approximately 8 per cent of the workforce. All officers — whether established or unestablished, including those still on probation — are eligible to apply to participate in the job sharing scheme. Officers of all grades are eligible to apply to job share and at present officers are job sharing in grades up to and including principal level. The implementation of a broader range of job sharing options, such as a four day week or a three week month, is currently under consideration in conjunction with staff representatives.
Most Departments-Offices have introduced a flexitime system. This system facilitates civil servants, generally in grades up to the middle management level, to be flexible in their arrival and departure times to and from work, subject to being present for a standard core time each day and subject to a minimum number of hours being worked over a four week period.
A crèche for the children of civil servants opened in April 1992 in existing office space in Lower Mount Street. The State provided the premises and paid for their refurbishment. The management of the crèche is the responsibility of a co-operative set up by the staff side representatives. Following a tendering procedure held in 1991, the co-operative appointed a manager. The day-to-day running costs are to be met from the fees paid by clients of the crèche. The possibility of opening a crèche on the north side of Dublin city is currently being researched.
There has been a career break scheme in operation since 1984. This scheme allows civil servants to take special leave without pay for periods ranging from a minimum period of six months to a maximum period of five years for a number of purposes, including family responsibilities. At the end of 1996, there were 870 people on career break, 47 per cent of them for child rearing or other domestic purposes.
There are provisions for special leave with pay for up to five days in the event of the serious and unforseen illness of a close family member. Special leave without pay up to a maximum period of two months may be granted in special circumstances for urgent domestic affairs. Where special leave without pay is sought for the purpose of coping with family difficulties arising from the death or serious illness of an immediate relative, the amount of special leave may be extended to six months.