Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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553. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the facilities available in her Department to facilitate breastfeeding breaks in accordance with WHO guidelines of two years for women in the workplace and as part of the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9379/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates 13 main offices and 75 Intreo and public offices. All of these buildings have at least one restroom for staff which can be used by a breastfeeding mother. The rooms have a bed, a chair and a lockable door. All our offices have fridge facilities for use by staff and arrangements are made locally by mothers who wish to store expressed milk. The Department also operates in a number of other buildings as a minor tenant, including HSE centres, which would provide similar facilities.

A circular issued to all staff in 2019 outlining the arrangements for mothers who wish to avail of breastfeeding breaks. A staff member who wishes to exercise this entitlement in either the form of breastfeeding breaks or reduced hours notifies her manager before her return to work from maternity leave. This provides an opportunity for any necessary arrangements to be made, including bringing in any additional equipment the mother may require.