Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if sitting Members in the Houses of the Oireachtas are eligible to apply for the job-sharing scheme if they meet the eligibility criteria set out in chapter 5, section 4 of the terms and conditions of employment for registered teachers in recognised primary and post-primary schools published on 30 September 2016 in his Department's web book; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35612/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The position is that in September 2016 my Department published on its website the ‘Terms & Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’.

Chapter Four, Paragraph 1.1 of this book details the position for Oireachtas members i.e. that the career break scheme is designed to cater for public representation and states “The main objectives of this scheme below, which are not exhaustive, is for employers, wherever possible to facilitate applicants in the areas of: ............- Public Representation”

This is in accordance with the Government decision of the 1 February, 2011 to revise the employment and pension arrangements for teachers who became Oireachtas members so that any member of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann who holds a teaching post in a primary, secondary, community, comprehensive or vocational school would have the option of applying for a career break of up to 10 years.  This was to replace existing leave arrangements. This decision was extended by the Government to all staff in the education sector ahead of the 2016 General Election.  Therefore the only means by which a teacher who takes up a seat in the Oireachtas can temporarily take leave from their teaching post and subsequently return to it is through taking a career break.