Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 301: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on amending the regulations for term time working to include shorter breaks of four or six weeks; the merits and drawbacks of such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10584/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the term time arrangements that apply in the Civil Service and in certain parts of the public service. In replying, I will refer to the arrangements in the Civil Service for which I have direct responsibility.

In December 2000, term time was introduced as a pilot scheme for all civil servants covered by the conciliation and arbitration scheme and provided for ten weeks or 13 weeks' special unpaid leave for parents or primary carers. At present, an eight-week term time scheme is being piloted.

The merits and drawbacks of a proposal for other periods of leave in the Civil Service term time scheme have to be carefully assessed in the context of work-life balance policies and the business requirements of the Civil Service. I understand that the issue is being discussed with the Civil Service unions at present and I do not want to anticipate these at this stage.

However, as well as term time, the Civil Service has a wide range of family friendly and work-life balance schemes in operation, including, inter alia, flexi-time, work sharing, career breaks, leave for domestic reasons, paternity leave, bereavement leave and marriage leave. These various options are in addition to the general statutory entitlements such as maternity leave, adoptive leave, parental leave and so on and, together with family friendly and work-life balance schemes, represent good employment arrangements for staff.