David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Finance if all areas of the Civil service offer family friendly schemes to staff; the schemes available to civil servants; the success of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19639/06]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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The Civil Service has had family friendly working arrangements available for nearly 20 years. The schemes are available in all areas of the Civil Service. The main schemes are worksharing, flexitime and term time. Worksharing allows staff to job share or to adopt a part-time attendance pattern, subject to the business requirements. Flexitime gives staff flexibility to vary their starting and finishing times. Term Time allows staff with children up to 18 years of age to take either 8, 10 or 13 weeks unpaid leave from June until the end of August to match their working arrangements to their children's summer holidays. In addition the Civil Service also allows staff to take up to two career breaks during their career. A career break is a period of unpaid leave from work of between six months and five years. The Civil Service also provides crèche facilities in a number of locations, including Mount Street and Marlborough Street in Dublin, Athlone, Ennis, Sligo and Backweston, Celbridge. Family friendly initiatives allow staff the flexibility they need to manage their family commitments while contributing fully in the workplace. Family friendly policies make a vital contribution to the recruitment and retention of staff. Requests for access to work life balance schemes are facilitated as far as possible, subject to business requirements. The Civil Service is acknowledged as offering the widest range of flexible and family friendly options and participation rates are much higher than in equivalent employment in the private sector.