Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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326. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which public servants, who have opted for part-time work for parenting reasons, may opt back to full-time positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28293/15]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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As part of my responsibilities as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for the terms and conditions of employment of public servants.  However, specific policies relating to work sharing in each of the sectors, other than the civil service, are dealt with by the appropriate responsible minister.  This approach means that work-sharing schemes can be designed to take account of the human resource requirements in individual sectors. 

In the Civil Service, the work-sharing scheme provides for civil servants opting to work on a part time basis for a variety of reasons, including parenting reasons.  The minimum period for which a person may opt to work-share is 12 months.  There is provision for a review of work-sharing arrangements at the end of the initial period of 12 months and every 12 months thereafter.  Any civil servant who has work-shared for a period of 12 months may apply to vary the agreed arrangements or return to full time duties.  Any request for change will be considered in the light of the business needs of the area and/or Department and the personal responsibilities and obligations of the civil servant concerned.