Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
523. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of dedicated spaces for breastfeeding and expressing breast milk in workplaces within her Department and the workplaces of public bodies and agencies under her remit, including a list of said buildings which do and do not have these facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50348/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates 13 main offices and 62 Intreo Centres across this jurisdiction.
All of these buildings have at least one rest room for staff which can be used by a breastfeeding mother. The rooms have a bed, a chair and a lockable door. All our offices have fridge facilities for use by staff and arrangements are made locally by mothers who wish to store expressed milk. The Department also operates in a number of other buildings as a minor tenant, including HSE centres, which would provide similar facilities.
A circular issued to all staff in 2019 outlining the arrangements for mothers who wish to avail of breastfeeding breaks. A staff member who wishes to exercise this entitlement in either the form of breastfeeding breaks or reduced hours notifies her manager before her return to work from maternity leave. This provides an opportunity for any necessary arrangements to be made, including bringing in any additional equipment the mother may require.
The day-to-day implementation, monitoring and review of all work life balance arrangements (including flexible working arrangements in relation to breastfeeding breaks) is managed locally.
The Citizens Information Board operate five main offices nationally. CIB’s head office in Dublin has a dedicated wellness room which can be used by a breastfeeding mother. The remaining four offices have readily available space to accommodate breastfeeding mothers. All offices have refrigeration facilities available to store breast milk when required. CIB has a breastfeeding policy in place and all new mothers are informed of this policy on their return from maternity leave, with arrangements being made between the new mother and their line manager at local level.
The Pensions Authority occupies one office building at Verschoyle House, 28-30 Lower Mount Street, Dublin 2. There are rooms which can be made available to breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding mothers are entitled to adjustment of working hours for the purposes of providing breastfeeding breaks. The Authority also operates a hybrid work model which allows employees the flexibility to work from home.
