Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 400: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on extending the period of career break to facilitate parents who wish to take a longer period with third young children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36321/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The terms and conditions of the career break scheme for civil servants are agreed centrally by the Department of Finance. Child rearing is one of the purposes for which a career break may be approved. A career break consists of special leave without pay for a period of not less than six months and not more than five years at any one time. A career break may be extended in six monthly periods or in periods in excess of six months, provided the total period of special leave without pay does not exceed five years in all. Eligible staff may, in general, avail of two career breaks in the Civil Service. A second career break may only be taken when the officer has served for a period equal to the duration of the initial career break. The total period of the special leave should not exceed ten years in all.

In the case of first and second level teachers, the terms and conditions of the career break scheme are agreed centrally at the teachers' conciliation council. A career break consists of special leave without pay for a period of not less than one school year and not more than five school years. A teacher may engage in one career break spread over five years or may wish to participate, at varying intervals, in separate arrangements subject to the approval of the school authorities and the condition that the total period of special leave without pay does not exceed five years in all. In exceptional circumstances, the school authorities may authorise a teacher to commence a career break during the course of the school year. In such circumstances, provided the overall five year limit is not exceeded, the period of special leave will terminate not earlier than the end of the subsequent school year and is deemed to be a two-year career break.

The existing terms and conditions for civil servants and teachers availing of career breaks are very generous. I am not aware of proposals to extend these time limits.