Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will reconsider the provision of the employee assistance service; if she intends to provide a different service in its place; if this is part of the PCW agreement; the reason it was withdrawn; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8706/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A pilot programme for an employee assistance service for teachers was agreed during PCW negotiations. In 1996 the then Minister for Education announced the introduction of a two year pilot welfare scheme for teachers which commenced in 1998. In August 2000 a new interim phase began for two years with Cork Education Centre as nominated employer. The scheme was overseen by a steering committee made up of representatives from the Department of Education and Science, school management bodies and teacher unions.

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.

Exploratory talks have now commenced with representatives of teacher unions and management groups on the development of an occupational health service for teachers. An employee assistance service would form part of such a service. The aims of an occupational health service would be to promote the health and safety of people at work