Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Galway is entitled to another year's career break on top of the five years they will have completed by 2 July 2006 in view of the fact that they propose to return to college to study for a degree; if her attention has been drawn to the financial hardship that same will have on their family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21813/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person referred to by the Deputy was granted a career break for a period of six months from 2 July 2001 for the purpose of rearing her children. Her career break was subsequently extended at six monthly intervals at her request up to the maximum period of five years permitted under the terms of Department of Finance circular 18/98 concerning career breaks. Under the terms of the circular the total period of special leave without pay cannot exceed five years and as such it is not open to me to extend her break by a further year. She will be eligible for a second career break when she serves for a period equal to the total duration of her initial break (5 years).

In accordance with the terms of her career break she is due to return to the next appropriate vacancy arising, following the end of her career break on 1 July 2006. My Department will be in contact with her as soon as a suitable vacancy arises.