Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Education and Science, in view of the commitment given by his Department in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, the reason he has failed to establish a permanent nationwide employee assistance service for teachers; the reason, unlike other public sector workers such as civil servants and the gardaí, teachers do not have such a back-up service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9791/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The interim phase of the employee assistance service for teachers concluded its operation in August 2003. A detailed review of the operation of the interim phase of the service was considered by the steering committee responsible for overseeing the operation of the service. The steering committee concluded that the current service arrangements should not be extended beyond the scheduled end of the interim phase in August 2003. Rather, it was considered that there was a need for a more fundamental review of the objectives and remit of an employee assistance service for teachers and the preparation of a blueprint for the future development of such a service. My Department is currently considering possible options to advance this issue in the context of available resources.