Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 6

Written Answers. - Family Friendly Work Practices.

Frances Fitzgerald

Ceist:

190 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance 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. [4716/01]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I very much welcome the important initiative being taken by the Equality Authority and the national framework committee for the development of family friendly policies. If we are to have equality of opportunity in the workplace, it is essential that policies to allow staff to balance work and family life are developed and fully implemented.

The equality unit of the Department of Finance has written to all Departments informing them of family friendly workplace day and asking that managements consider what they might do in their own areas. The equality unit has also supplied departmental personnel officers with a short circular announcing the day and listing the schemes which are available to staff. Managements have been asked to send the circular to all staff. The aim is to ensure that staff are aware of the initiative and of the schemes for family friendly working that are open to them. The Department is considering whether it should take other steps to mark the day on 1 March 2001.

A very wide range of family friendly arrangements have been introduced in the Department of Finance and throughout the Civil Service. The Civil Service has been ahead of most employers in the introduction of such measures. The available initiatives are:

Flexitime:	flexible working hours
Job sharing:	part-time working
Term time leave:	leave during the summer holiday period
Career breaks:	extended unpaid leave for up to five years
Child care:	Budget 2001 provided £10 million capital for the provision of 15 crèches for children of civil servants in 2001 and 2002
Paternity leave:	paid leave for fathers on the birth of a child
Work sharing:	this scheme will be introduced shortly and significantly widens the range of part-time working options available to staff.

Civil servants are also entitled to the benefits of the statutory schemes such as maternity, adoptive and parental leave. Family friendly initiatives are available to staff in my Department in accordance with the rules and conditions of the schemes.