Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the services Medmark provide to his Department to get school employees who are off work due to illness to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22696/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department put in place an Occupational Health Strategy as a supportive resource for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs), to promote their health in their workplace, with a focus primarily on prevention rather than cure. The Occupational Health Strategy comprises of the Employee Assistance and Occupational Health Services.

Medmark Occupational Healthcare is the current provider of occupational health services for teachers and SNAs. The Occupational Health Service encompasses health management and incorporates pre-employment heath assessments, sickness absence management referrals, medical assessments of fitness for work and ill health retirement assessments and appeals.

Employers of teachers and SNAs have responsibilities for ensuring the health, safety, well-being and educational progress of students. They also have a duty under Section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to "ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of his or her employees". In order to discharge these management responsibilities effectively, it is essential that employers have access to professional occupational health advice on medical fitness. The Occupational Health Serivce is in place to assist employers and employees in the timely management of medical problems that arise in the context of work.