Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31204/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Shorter Working Year Scheme, which was introduced in 2009 (Ref: Department of Finance Circular 14/09) supersedes the previous Term Time Scheme (Ref: Department of Finance Circular 32/06). Under the Shorter Working Year Scheme, staff can apply for special unpaid leave for one or more continuous periods of not less than two and not more than 13 weeks at any time during the year, subject to management approval, rather than only during the summer holiday period which was a feature of the old Term Time Scheme. In 2012, some 103 whole-time equivalent staff availed of the Shorter Working Year Scheme. The average duration was 17.18 days. To date in 2013, some 96 whole-time equivalent staff have availed of or applied for the Shorter Working Year Scheme. The average duration of this leave amounts to 19.83 days.