Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to recruit extra doctors for a company (details supplied) in the mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20484/23]

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’ 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, contracted by the Department, was procured in line with public procurement guidelines. The current OHS provider is Medmark Occupational Healthcare Ltd.

It is the responsibility of the OHS provider Medmark to employ and recruit personnel including Occupational Health Physicians to carry out the services under the OHS.

Medmark have informed the Department that two Occupational Health Physicians have recently been recruited for the Limerick clinic who will be taking up their appointments in the coming weeks.