Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 April 2017
143. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the budgetary allocation to the employee assistance programme for teachers; the details of the support services provided under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18516/17]
View answerMy Department has also put in place an Occupational Health Strategy as a supportive resource for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs), to promote their health in the workplace, with a focus primarily on prevention rather than cure. The Occupational Health Strategy comprises of the Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme and Occupational Health Services. These services cater for about 64,000 teachers and 10,000 SNAs in some 4,000 primary and post-primary Schools.
The Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme is a confidential service accessible by means of a freephone telephone helpline available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing counselling on a range of personal health and well-being issues given by qualified clinicians. Up to 6 face-to-face counselling sessions are available to provide supportive and solution-focused care based on an individual’s clinical needs. The telephone service also provides specialist information, support and advice in relation to family, financial, legal, work-related and consumer information services as well as providing management support.
The Employee Assistance and Wellbeing Programme is currently provided at a total cost of €395,512 (ex VAT) per annum.
