Written Answers Nos. 1354-1382
1354. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which she will introduce legislation to ensure that students in the asylum process are able to avail of higher education grants and are charged the same fees as Irish citizens. [33860/14]
View answerUnder the terms of the Department of Education and Skill's Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The nationality/immigration status requirements for the student grant scheme are set out in section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011 and regulation 5 of the Student Support Regulations 2014.
While persons with refugee status meet the nationality/immigration status requirement of the scheme, persons who are in the asylum process and are awaiting decisions in relation to their applications for refugee status are ineligible under the nationality requirement.
Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme 2014 provides for the review of eligibility for the award of grant assistance in the event of changes of circumstances in the academic year, including a change in relation to a student's nationality or immigration status. This means that where a person in the asylum process is declared a refugee during the course of their studies, he/she may apply to SUSI to have his/her application re-assessed. Any award the applicant may be eligible for as a result of a change in their immigration status will take effect from the date on which the change occurs.
Under the terms of the Department of Education and Skills, Free Fees Schemes students must hold, inter alia, EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. Persons with official refugee status in the state may also meet the nationality clause of the schemes. Persons in the asylum process are not entitled to free fees, however time spent from date of official lodgement of application papers for refugee status will be included for the purpose of meeting the three year residency requirement.
Persons in the asylum process who are declared a refugee during the course of their studies may be entitled to free tuition fees for the remainder of their course of study as follows:
- Students who acquire refugee status up to 31st January in an academic year may be entitled to free tuition from the second half of the academic year.
- Students who acquire refugee status from 1st February may be entitled to free tuition fees from the commencement of the next academic year.
My Department will be involved in an independent Working Group which will report to Government on improvements with the protection process, including Direct Provision and supports for asylum seekers.
1355. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers and principals expected to retire in 2014 and in 2015; and the plans to address this. [33861/14]
View answerMy Department has compiled detailed information on teacher retirements in respect of Primary, Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools for the years 2012 and 2013.
The detailed information with effect from 2012 is available in tabular form on my Department's website at the link http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Statistical-Reports/Other-Statistical-Reports.html
Similarly detailed information for 2014 and 2015 will be compiled, in early 2015 and early 2016 and will be posted on my Department's website.
Retirements of teachers and principals is a normal feature of school life. While the volume of retirements can change from year to year the most important issue is that the resulting vacancies continue to be filled in the normal manner. In this regard, the Government's commitment and priority afforded to the education sector is reflected in the fact that Principal and teaching vacancies that arise in schools are one of the few areas of the public service that are exempted from the Government's moratorium on recruitment.
1356. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school principals who retired in 2013 and 2014; the number of those who have been replaced; the number of those positions still vacant and advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33862/14]
View answerMy Department has compiled detailed information on teacher retirements in respect of Primary, Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools for the years 2012 and 2013.
The detailed information with effect from 2012 is available in tabular form on my Department's website at the link http://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Statistics/Statistical-Reports/Other-Statistical-Reports.html
Similarly detailed information for 2014 and 2015 will be compiled, in early 2015 and early 2016 and will be posted on my Department's website.
Vacancies for School Principal that arise due to retirements or otherwise are one of the few areas of the public service that are exempted from the Government's moratorium on recruitment. The issue of principal posts remaining vacant as a result of retirements should not therefore arise. The advertising and recruitment process in relation to principal posts is dealt with at local school level.
1357. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to expand the premises of a school (details supplied) in County Limerick due to the rapid population growth in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33863/14]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that an all-in-devolved grant has been approved for the school, in question, to provide 8 permanent en-suite mainstream classrooms, 2 resource rooms and associated ancillary accommodation. These classrooms will greatly enhance the schools accommodation and represents phase I of the process to meet the school's long term needs.
In light of this development, my Department will be in further contact with the school authority regarding the progression of the project above and also to assess their remaining accommodation needs and how these might be addressed.
1358. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the school term starting in August in view of the fact that this cuts short the tourist holiday term causing a negative effect on the tourism industry here (details supplied). [33878/14]
View answerWhile standardised arrangements for the breaks to be taken by schools at Christmas, Easter and midterm apply to all schools, it is not a requirement of these agreed arrangements that the commencement or end of the school year either at primary or post-primary level should be standardised.
Individual schools may therefore determine the precise start and end of the school year subject to ensuring that the requirements in respect of the minimum number of teaching days per school year are met. The expectation is that the school year will normally commence during the week in which 1st September falls. However, the school year may commence in the week prior to that in which 1st September falls where this is necessary in order to meet the overall requirement of a minimum of 167 days at post-primary level or 183 days at primary level.
1359. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funds given to Caranua so far; the dates on which the moneys were transferred; the schedule for delivery of outstanding funds. [33887/14]
View answerTo date, some €78.3m, comprising contributions and associated interest has been lodged to the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) in accordance with section 29 of the Residential Institution Statutory Act, 2012. Of this amount €41.3m, which had been held in a special deposit account in the Central Bank of Ireland was lodged to the NTMA account on the establishment of the Fund in March 2013. Further contributions amounting to €33.5m were received from congregations on various dates in 2013 with a further €3.5m being received in 2014.
I understand that one congregation is expected to make further contributions of €2m later this year and again in 2015 and that another congregation is providing the proceeds of property disposals as they arise. I will be continuing to press those congregations who have yet to give clear timeframes for the completion of their contributions to do so.
1360. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will bring forward her review of the eligibility criteria for applying to Caranua’s funds which is scheduled for 2015. [33888/14]
View answer1430. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the terms of the Caranua scheme can be changed to allow for children of survivors to avail of it. [34654/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1360 and 1430 together.
As the Deputies will be aware the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides that those who are currently eligible to apply to Caranua are those former residents who received awards from the Residential Institutions Redress Board or equivalent Court awards or settlements.
During the passage of the legislation through the Houses of Oireachtas, an undertaking was given to review the operation of the Fund two years after its establishment in the event of applications not resulting in a significant expenditure of the Fund. Following its establishment in March 2013, Caranua began to accept applications in January 2014. Accordingly it would be my intention to consider the question of a review of the operation of the Fund next year.
1361. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the groups which the CEO of Caranua has met with since its establishment; and the dates on which they have met them. [33889/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy relates to the day to day affairs of Caranua. As I have no role in relation to such matters I have arranged to have the Deputy's question forwarded to Caranua with a view to having the information provided to him directly as soon as possible.
1362. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a memorial for survivors of institutional abuse. [33890/14]
View answerAn Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for the proposed Memorial, which was to be integrated with the Garden of Remembrance, in November 2013. Subsequently, the Memorial Committee advised that the Journey of Light proposal was not transferable to another site as it is inextricably linked with the Garden of Remembrance. Neither did it consider that the Board's decision should be appealed. The Committee considered that any new competition should be open to conceptual and site specific proposals and that a central Dublin location be identified on a cost neutral basis with appropriate zoning. My officials are consulting with the OPW and Dublin City Council in relation to the identification of a suitable central Dublin location as suggested by the Committee.
1363. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of people who made applications for funds from Caranua for educational courses and were refused on the basis the cost was over €5,000; the cost of the courses applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33891/14]
View answer1366. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have received advocacy assistance from Caranua since it was established; and what that entailed for each of those persons. [33896/14]
View answer1369. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have made applications to Caranua to date; the number of persons who have been refused payments; the number who have received payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33904/14]
View answer1431. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the financial amount paid out to survivors by Caranua; and the financial amount paid out on wages. [34655/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1363, 1366, 1369 and 1431 together.
Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. Caranua provides regular updates on its website (www.caranua.ie) in regard to the number of applications received and related matters. I understand that by end August, Caranua had received 3,188 applications of which 3,059 applicants were deemed to be eligible, 75 applications were still being processed and 54 applicants were found not to be eligible to apply; 2,431 applicants have had their identification documents verified and application advisors had been in touch with 1,203 applicants. By that time Caranua had made payments worth €1,775,541 to 335 applicants.
I have arranged to have the Deputies' questions forwarded to Caranua with a view to having any additional available information provided to them directly as soon as possible.
1364. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the external agencies engaged by Caranua; the cost of these services; if the costs of these external services are covered by funds from the National Treasury Management Agency. [33892/14]
View answer1368. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of expenditure of Caranua of office running costs, external contractors, ICT spend and staff salaries since its establishment. [33899/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1364 and 1368 together.
In accordance with section 30 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 all expenses and other costs incurred by Caranua are met from the investment account established by the NTMA and funded from contributions received from religious congregations.
Caranua's annual accounts, which it is required to prepare under section 31 of the 2012 Act, will set out the position in regard to the organisation's income and expenditure. Caranua's 2013 accounts are currently being examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
I have arranged to have the Deputy's questions forwarded to Caranua with a view to having any additional available information provided to him directly as soon as possible.
1365. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the panel arrangements in place for special needs assistants, in view of the fact that SNAs who were made redundant prior to 1 May 2013 have no panel rights, irrespective of years of service, and are therefore disadvantaged in securing employment; her views on whether this is fair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33893/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a set of proposals for a public service agreement were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission which now form the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (the Haddington Road Agreement). One aspect of this Agreement relates to supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and as both Unions that represent SNAs namely, SIPTU and IMPACT, have signed up to the Haddington Road Agreement, my Department has implemented supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs.
The first part of the LRC proposals for supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs outlines that the supplementary assignment arrangements only apply to current SNAs who are notified that they are to be made redundant. Accordingly, the purpose of these arrangements is to facilitate eligible SNAs who are being made redundant by one employer in filling SNA vacancies that may become available in another school / ETB.
The detailed supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) for the 2014/2015 school year are set out in Departmental Circular 0044/2014 which issued on 12 May 2014 and which is available on the Department's website at the following address: http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0044_2014.pdf
With effect from 1 May 2013 once an SNA with a minimum of one year's service (Service in a substitute capacity i.e. covering for maternity leave, sick leave, career breaks, job-sharing etc. does not count) is notified by his/her employer that s/he is to be made redundant then s/he shall be deemed to be a member of a supplementary assignment panel for SNAs. With the exception of SNAs who have been re-employed on permanent contracts or have chosen to opt out of the panel in accordance with the terms of Paragraph 6 of the circular, all SNAs who have been made redundant since 1 May 2013 are members of the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel. It should be noted that this does not prevent any person, including SNAs who were employed prior to 1 May 2013, from applying for SNA vacancies but employers are obliged to give precedence to applicants who are members of the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel.
When an employer has a vacancy to fill, they must undertake the recruitment process in accordance with the provisions outlined in paragraphs 12-18 of Circular 44/2014.
As the LRC proposals are part of a wider public-sector pay agreement that represent compromises by both employers and unions, I do not have the ability to alter the terms of that agreement.
Finally, my Department has set up a dedicated e-mail address to deal with all queries in relation to the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel and any queries in respect of the operation of the Panel can be directed to this dedicated e-mail address: snasupplementpanel@education.gov.ie
1367. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if staff salaries in Caranua are funded from the €110 million allocated to the body or from other Exchequer funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33898/14]
View answerAll expenditure incurred by the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (Caranua) in the performance of its functions, including its payroll costs, are met from the investment account operated by the National Treasury Management Agency. In accordance with the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 the investment account is financed from the contributions from the religious congregations of up to €110 million and any associated interest. There is no provision for the use of Exchequer funds to meet the costs associated with the operation of the Fund.
1370. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the 13,000 plus potential applicants still eligible to apply for support or payments from Caranua have received sufficient information to ensure that people were not deterred from applying and were aware of how to apply as per the previous Minister's commitment to do so. [33907/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, my predecessor asked Caranua to keep the matter of reaching out to those former residents who had not applied under review so as to ensure the greatest level of uptake of the funding available. The Deputy will also be aware that there was a delay in processing applications, which arose due to the number of applications and calls received being higher than expected and the time taken to recruit staff. Caranua's four Application Advisors are in place since late May and my Department approved Caranua's request to engage an Agency to provide temporary additional resources to address the backlog.
Caranua has pursued a range of measures to increase awareness of its functions, including leaflet and poster campaigns including includes doctors' surgeries, health centres and other community based services, its website and ongoing contact with survivor support groups, its statutory partners, Irish welfare services and other community based and social services in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
1371. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that have vending machines in operation; the amount of revenue received by each of these schools for each vending machine; her plans to introduce legislation to ban unhealthy foods being stocked in vending machines in schools or ban the use of vending machines altogether. [33914/14]
View answer1377. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement she has had with companies regarding the sale of fizzy drinks and use of vending machines in schools; the names of the companies she has met with; and the number of times she has met with them. [33940/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1371 and 1377 together.
The results of the 2012 Lifeskills survey, which were published by my Department in February 2014, indicated that approximately 30% of post primary schools have vending machines or school shops which sell fizzy drinks, sweets and crisps. This figure was down from 35% in the 2009 survey.
The income generated by vending machines is a matter for the relevant schools and the suppliers.
It is not my intention to legislate on this issue. In the first instance, as Minister for Education and Skills I do not have the authority to dictate to schools in this manner. Schools are generally privately managed institutions which, although largely funded by the State, are relatively autonomous.
In addition, I do not want to dictate to young people in relation to what they can and cannot eat. The education system provides students with appropriate knowledge and skills in relation to issues such as healthy eating, the importance of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle. This is done through Social, Personal and Health Education, Home Economics and Physical Education. We want to ensure that schools offer students healthy alternatives so that can they put their knowledge into practice and choose in an informed way.
It is my intention to issue guidance to schools on promoting well-being among their students. The promotion of 'healthy vending' will form part of this guidance. The guidance is being developed in consultation with the Department of Health and the HSE.
It is not just about getting rid of junk food but it requires us to look at the totality of the health and well-being of our young people. We give them the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop positive practices for their lives today and into the future so that they can be healthy and have positive mental attitudes to life.
It is expected that the guidance on promoting well-being and healthy eating will issue to schools this autumn.
I have had no engagement with companies in relation to the sale of food and beverage products in schools.
1372. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide in tabular form the cutbacks affecting grants to primary schools over the past seven years; if she plans to start restoring some of these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33915/14]
View answerThe table contains the capitation rates for Primary Schools in each of the last seven years.
This Government has sought to protect education spending and maintain frontline education services as far as possible.
However, levels of educational expenditure cannot be determined in a manner that ignores the economic reality. Consequently there is no scope to reverse the decision to reduce the level of capitation payable.
The following table outlines the standard rate of Capitation and Ancillary grants for mainstream pupils in Primary Schools for the last seven years.
|
YEAR |
Standard Capitation Rate per pupil |
Full Ancillary Rate per pupil |
|
2008 Calendar Year |
€178.58 |
€151.50 |
|
2009 Calendar Year |
€200.00 |
€155.00 |
|
2010 Calendar Year |
€200.00 |
€155.00 |
|
2011 Calendar Year |
€190.00 |
€147.00 |
|
2012 Calendar Year |
€178.00 |
€147.00 |
|
2013 Calendar Year |
€176.00 |
€147.00 |
|
2014 Calendar Year |
€173.00 |
€147.00 |
1373. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to restore the minor works grant paid to primary schools; if so, when same will be paid; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a review was due to take place of disadvantaged status for schools over four years ago; her plans to carry out such a review so that some schools can apply for disadvantaged status. [33916/14]
View answerCircular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the 2014 capital allocation for the payment of a Minor Works Grant.
The DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme is the subject of ongoing evaluation by both the Educational Research Centre and the Department's Inspectorate. This research was the subject of a research seminar in May 2014 entitled Learning from DEIS. At this seminar, the former Minister for Education and Skills, announced plans to commission one further piece of research in relation to DEIS to provide recommendations for a renewal of the Government's policy in relation to educational disadvantage, including DEIS. A procurement process to produce a "Consolidated Report on the Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" is currently underway.
1374. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the work of her Department's representative to the subcommittee of the interdepartmental implementation group on Children First; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33917/14]
View answerAs part of Ireland's response to the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Ms Louise O'Keeffe and to inform its Action Plan in relation to same, the Government has initiated a review of current and planned child protection mechanisms in the school system to assess the extent to which issues identified in the judgement have been addressed in the period since 1973. In that regard, it was decided to use the experience and expertise of the existing Inter-Departmental Implementation Group on Children First in undertaking this review. The review is being undertaken by a specially tasked subcommittee within the Inter-Departmental Implementation Group. This subcommittee comprises senior officials from my Department, the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Health and Justice and Equality and others as appropriate. The subcommittee will, inter alia, review current and planned legislative and administrative child protection measures in schools and generally as decided by the Government.
1375. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of cases and litigation that comes within the parameters of the O'Keeffe judgment; and the implications of this for the State. [33918/14]
View answerThe State Claims Agency has forwarded its review of day school abuse cases to identify those that come within the parameters of the judgment to my Department. My Department is currently considering this review in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and I expect to be in a position to report back to Government on this matter in the near future.
1378. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in determination of an appeal for higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33958/14]
View answerAn appeal from the student referred to by the Deputy was considered by the independent Student Grants Appeals Board on the 22nd July, 2014 and the student was requested to provide additional information.
Additional information has been received and the application will be re-assessed and the student will be notified directly by the Student Grants Appeals Board of the outcome.
1379. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress to date of the proposed amalgamation of national schools in an area (details supplied) County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33960/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, responsibility for the delivery of the amalgamated school, in question, has been devolved to the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The OPW and its Design Team are currently completing the Stage 2(a) Submission (Developed Sketch Design). When complete, approval will be given to the OPW to proceed to Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which involves obtaining planning permission, fire certificate and disability access certificate and the completion of tender documents.
1380. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of administrative arrangements, as opposed to contracts for service her Department is a party to; if she will provide in tabular form the party or parties to the administrative arrangement; the duration of these administrative arrangements; the cost recovery value of these administrative arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34001/14]
View answerThe Information is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
1381. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans following pay cuts for teachers in 2011 and 2012 to have pay restored for 2012 graduates to the 2010 salary scale as happened for 2011 graduates, in view of the fact that the 2012 graduates are now on an inferior pay scale; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34011/14]
View answerThe Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 – 2016 (Haddington Road Agreement) provides that revised salary scales shall be prepared for same grade entrants to the public service (including for example teachers) to incorporate the revision of salary scales introduced in 2011, in order to address the imbalance between those who entered the Public Service since 2011 and those who entered before that date. In this regard, my Department published revised incremental salary scales for teachers who entered teaching between 1 January 2011 and 31 January 2012 in circular 0032/2013 (Primary teachers) and circular 005/2014 (Secondary teachers).
More recently, following negotiations held under Section 2.31 of the Haddington Road Agreement, my Department issued circular 0053/2014 outlining changes to the incremental salary scale, part-time rates and allowance rates for post-1 January 2011 entrants to teaching, and changes to the allowance rates for allowances which remain payable to post-1 February 2012 entrants to teaching.
1382. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in her Department for granting carer's leave to persons who require same; if persons are entitled to the full 104 weeks care leave; if she will provide a copy of the most recent circular issued on this matter; if this circular is up to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34012/14]
View answerCarer's leave allows employees to take temporary unpaid leave to enable them personally to provide full time care and attention for a person who is in need of such care.
The suggested timeline for applying for leave is 6 weeks in advance of the start date of the leave. Since the transfer of certain Human Resource (HR) and Pensions functions from this Department to PeoplePoint (HR and Pensions Shared Service Centre) in February of this year, staff of this Department seeking carer's leave must apply electronically through the PeoplePoint portal. This application is then routed to the Human Resources (HR) Unit in this Department. The applicant for carer's leave must confirm when making the application that they have applied to the Department of Social Protection for a decision by a Deciding Officer under the Carer's Act 2001 that the person in respect for whom the leave is being sought requires this care. This decision is based on information provided by the relevant person's general medical practitioner. In addition, in order to be deemed eligible, the staff member must have completed at least 12 months continuous service in the civil service.
Once a decision to grant the carer's leave has been made by the Department of Social Protection, a confirmation document is then signed by the staff member and by the HR Manager in this Department confirming the date on which the leave period will commence and the duration of the leave. The carer's leave can be taken in one continuous period of 104 weeks or for a number of periods not exceeding a total of 104 weeks. Where the leave is not taken as one continuous period the minimum statutory entitlement that may be taken in one period is 13 weeks. There must be a gap of 6 weeks between the periods of carer's leave. The carer's leave can be terminated before the expiry of 104 weeks in a number of circumstances e.g. where the person being cared for ceases to require full-time care and attention, which are set out in Paragraph 20 of the Department of Finance Circular 39/2005 – Carer's leave, the most up to date circular issued on this matter, at the following link:
