Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedure for critical illness cover for departmental staff, including education and training boards staff; his views on the meaning of the term acute operative surgical treatment as listed as eligible for such cover; the full list of such acute operative surgical treatments accepted under such terms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22409/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The conditions that govern the operation of sick leave for Civil Servants are contained in the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform circular reference number 12/2015. 

In the event a member of staff is certified with a serious illness there is provision for extending the term of sick leave and this is addressed under the Critical Illness Protocol (CIP) at appendix 3 of the circular. Under the CIP, an individual may, on an exceptional basis, be granted paid sick leave extended as follows:

- A maximum of 183 days on full pay in the previous rolling one-year period.

- Followed by a maximum of 182 days on half pay in the previous rolling one-year period.

- Subject to a maximum of 365 days paid sick leave in the previous rolling four-year period.

All applications are referred to the Chief Medical Officer to determine if the request meets the medical criteria set out in the Protocol and each application is assessed on a case by case basis following consideration of the medical advice and any other relevant circumstances.

The conditions that apply to staff at ETBs are governed by Department of Education and Skills Circular 0063/2015 which sets out the arrangements for a Certified Sick Leave Scheme for all staff in Education and Training Boards, other than Teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

Under the provisions of Circular 0063/2015 an employee who becomes incapacitated as a result of a critical illness or serious physical injury may be granted extended paid sick leave, in exceptional circumstances of:

- A maximum of 6 months (183 days) on full pay in a year

- Followed by a maximum of 6 months (182 days) on half pay

- Subject to a maximum of 12 months (365 days) paid sick leave in a rolling four year period.

The award of extended sick leave for critical illness or serious physical injury is a decision for the employer following receipt of medical advice from an Occupational Health Physician.