Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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735. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amounts paid from her Department or other bodies funded by her Department to a company (details supplied) for services in the past two years; if these contracts have any provision for extra payments based on performances and so on; the way an employee who is assessed as fit to work by the company can appeal or seek alternative opinions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63902/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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An Occupational Health Strategy is in place as a supportive resource for teachers and SNA’s. The aim of this strategy is to promote the health of teachers and SNAs in the workplace, with a focus primarily on prevention rather than cure. The Occupational Health Strategy comprises the Employee Assistance Service and the Occupational Health Service (OHS).

The OHS is in place to provide employers with occupational health advice in relation to teachers’ and SNA fitness for work. It incorporates pre-employment health assessments, sickness absence referrals, assessments of medical fitness for work and ill health retirement assessments. 

The OHS Occupational Physicians offer a unique perspective, insight and skill set that allows them to provide an appropriate assessment and informed opinion with respect to an employee’s medical fitness for work, as distinct from an opinion on the nature and severity of their medical complaint. Where there is a difference of medical opinion between the OHS and the treating Doctor/Consultant on an employee’s medical fitness for work, the OHS will consult with the treating Doctor/Consultant before providing final advice to the employer. If there is a specific need for an independent medical assessment, this can be facilitated through the OHS. An independent registered specialist in occupational medicine is selected and approved by the OHS and the Chief Medical Officer of the Civil Service, to provide a mechanism for employees who wish to appeal a critical illness medical decision.

There are specific appeal processes in place in relation to Critical Illness Provisions and ill Health Retirement.  These processes are detailed in Circular 0054/2019 Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools and .

The OHS, contracted by the Department, was procured in line with public procurement guidelines. The current OHS provider is Medmark Occupational Healthcare Ltd. The current provider delivers the Occupational Health Service for an all-inclusive fixed price contract at a total cost of €1,135,000 (ex VAT) per annum. In addition to the OHS fixed priced contract Medmark was paid a total of €0.573 million in 2021 and 2022 for Covid-19 Health Risk Categorisation assessments for school staff which was work that was not envisaged when the OHS contract was awarded.