Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the position regarding the career break scheme for special needs assistants in recognised primary and post-primary schools.Special needs assistants, SNAs, are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. They may be appointed to a special school or a mainstream school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special care needs arising from a disability. The first priority is that the care needs of the children are met on an ongoing basis during the school year.

In June 2012, my Department, in conjunction with the school management bodies and the relevant trade unions, agreed a career break scheme for SNAs in recognised primary and post-primary schools, the provisions for which are contained in circular 22/2012. The scope and objective of the scheme is for employers, wherever possible, to facilitate applicants to take time off to engage in, for example, personal development; education, including teacher training; public representation; child care-dependant care; and self-employment. The scheme is not designed to cater for those seeking to take up other paid positions in schools.

Each employer, in consultation with SNA staff, shall develop and maintain a policy statement specific to the needs of the school in respect of the approval of career breaks. In drawing up this policy, the welfare and educational needs of the pupils shall take precedence over all other considerations and, while taking account of the objectives of the scheme, shall have due regard to the capacity of the school to meet its obligations to its pupils.

In the public service and Civil Service, employees are precluded from taking up employment in another Department or a body under the Government's aegis while on career break. In a similar way, an SNA on a career break is precluded from taking up employment in a school. I thank the Senator for raising the issue, but I do not have the details of the specific case. If he wants to give them to me, I will examine them to determine whether we can give any advice or direction. As he knows, the circular was agreed with the unions. I do not know whether the Senator's client is engaged with them, but the rule is the same across the board for everyone. It is a career break, not the opportunity to fill another position in the public service.