Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of instances of cover for double hip replacement that have been assessed as appropriate for critical illness cover with regard to the assessment by a company (details supplied) for critical illness cover for teachers in the ETBs; the acute operative surgical treatments accepted under circular number 0063/2015 critical illness protocol appendix 3; the funding provided to the company by his Department to provide this service; if the company is the only occupational health care service operating this scheme for staff employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21603/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The provisions of the sick leave scheme and operating procedures are set out in the "Terms & Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools" and the “Standard Operating Procedures Manual” both of which are published on my Department's website. 

Teachers are not employed by my Department but are employed by School Boards of Management or Education and Training Boards. The decision on whether to apply the critical illness provisions is one for the employer following advice from the Occupational Health Service provider. The medical condition must have at least one of the following characteristics to qualify on medical grounds:

- Acute life threatening physical illness

- Chronic progressive illness, with well-established potential to reduce life expectancy

- Major physical trauma ordinarily requiring corrective acute operative surgical treatment

- In-patient hospital care of two consecutive weeks or greater (In the case of pregnancy related illness (natural or assisted pregnancy), the requirement for hospitalisation of two consecutive weeks will be reduced to two or more consecutive days of in-patient hospital/clinic care) 

A teacher may appeal the medical decision in accordance with the procedures set out in the “Standard Operating Procedures Manual”.

My Department does not hold data on the medical conditions of teachers employed by Education and Training Boards.

The current Occupational Health service provider for registered teachers and special needs assistants employed in recognised schools is Medmark Occupational Healthcare who, following a successful tendering process, was awarded a fixed-price contract for this service. The Occupational Health Service encompasses health management and incorporates pre-employment health assessments, sickness absence management referrals, medical assessments of fitness for work and ill health retirement assessments and appeals.

The service is provided at a total cost of €935,000 (ex VAT) per annum