Vol. 530 No. 6
425 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which his Department intends to mark the family friendly work-place 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. [4724/01]
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 in organising a family friendly workplace day. 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, Department of Finance, has written to all Departments informing them of the family friendly workplace day and has supplied Departmental personnel officers with a short circular announcing the day and listing the schemes which are available to staff. The aim is to ensure that, at the very least, staff are aware of the initiatives and of the opportunities open to them. In common with other Departments, the Department of Education and Science will be circulating this notice to all staff.
A very wide range of family-friendly arrangements have been introduced in the Department of Education and Science and throughout the Civil Service. The available initiatives are flexi-time – flexible working hours; jobsharing – part-time working; term time leave – leave during the summer holiday period; career breaks – breaks of between six months and 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; worksharing – this scheme will be introduced shortly and will significantly widen the range of part-time working options available to staff.
Civil servants are, of course, also entitled to the benefits of the statutory schemes such as maternity, adoptive and parental leave.
All family friendly initiatives are available to staff in my Department in accordance with the rules and conditions of the schemes.
