Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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190. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Civil Service employee assistance service provides supports to staff and management of the Civil Service in the area of domestic and gender-based violence; if the service plans to incorporate workplace awareness of domestic abuse into its work programme and people managers’ guide. [5482/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS) provides support to civil servants experiencing workplace and personal difficulties. This includes supporting individuals who have experienced domestic and gender based violence. Information on the CSEAS (information leaflets, and website etc) advises that the CSEAS provides one-to-one support and guidance in the areas of relationships, marital and family issues, including domestic violence. The CSEAS website has links to the websites of both The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (COSC) and Women’s Aid.

The People Managers' Guide is a resource for managers to assist them in responding to staff who are facing work and life challenges. The topics covered in the first iteration of the Guide were determined following consultation with managers across the departments in the Civil Service and based on the experience of the main issues dealt with by Employee Assistance Officers.

The e-version of this guide is a living document and information on this and other issues can be incorporated over time to reflect the key challenges that are faced by staff and managers in the civil service.

The CSEAS also develops and publishes a wide range of information and support leaflets on welfare related topics each year. These reflect many of the key issues that affect the workforce.