James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the possibilities there are for civil servants in her Department to take a career break; and if regulations pertaining to same are common to all Departments and to all civil servants. [56808/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Staff in my Department can avail of special leave without pay for a career break for the purposes of child-rearing, other domestic purposes (eg care of a sick relative), educational purposes, travel abroad and for the purposes of self-employment. A career break can be approved for periods from a minimum of six months to a maximum of five years. The operation of the career break scheme in my Department is in accordance with the provisions of Department of Finance Circular 18/98: Special leave without pay for career breaks, which is common to staff in all Departments.

While it is open to any staff member to apply for a career break, it should be noted that the granting of a leave of absence for a career break is, in the first instance, the responsibility of local management who are required to assess the application having regard to the business demands of their area of responsibility.