Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 6

Written Answers. - Family Friendly Work Practices.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

94 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Taoiseach the way in which his Department intends to mark the Family Friendly Workplace Day on 1 March 2001; the initiatives he has in this area; and the way in which family friendly initiatives are being implemented for the staff in his Department. [4709/01]

The Taoiseach

A number of initiatives are already in place in my Department to allow staff an opportunity to combine work and home life. These initiatives in common with the Civil Service in general include flexitime, parental, maternity, paternity and adoptive leave, as well as a job sharing scheme and a term time scheme. Staff may also avail of special leave to take care of domestic affairs, e.g. serious illness or old age of a relative, and may avail of a career break scheme.

The Department of Finance has written to all Departments asking them to consider initiatives to mark Family Friendly Workplace Day and this matter is under consideration in my Department. My Department has also notified all the social partner organisations of this day. Funding has been allocated to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform under the National Development Plan and will be used primarily by the Equality Authority to support the work of the National Framework Committee. Full details of family friendly work arrangements will be available at www.familyfriendly.ie to be launched by the Tánaiste on 1 March, 2001.