Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 23 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 6

Written Answers. - Family-Friendly Work Practices.

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

156 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his Department's policy on family-friendly work options; if he will report on which of the following are available to staff: flexitime; job sharing; job splitting; part-time work; term-time work; alternative work arrangements; career breaks; and the number of staff who are currently availing of each of these options. [15242/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

This Department implements family-friendly schemes for the benefit of staff and in a manner consistent with the exigencies of the service and quality customer service requirements. Details of existing arrangements are set out in the following table:

Family FriendlyOption	Availability	CurrentNumbers
Flexitime	Yes (To all grades represented by CPSU & PSEU)	2,440(approx)
Job Sharing	Yes	427
Job Splitting	Not available until new Work-Sharing scheme is agreed centrally by the Dept. of Finance and Staff Associations
Part-Time Work	Yes	16
Term-Time Work	Yes	91
Career Breaks	Yes	155

The Department would be prepared to consider any alternative arrangements that might arise subject to agreement with staff associations and the Department of Finance.