24 July, 2006 - Minister Hanafin announces new Employee Assistance Service for Teachers to support those experiencing difficulties

Teachers will be able to access the services of a new Employee Assistance Service starting in the new school term, the Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D., announced today. The new service will be run by VHI Corporate Solutions and is the first part of a new €2m Health and Well-being programme being developed for teachers.

The new scheme aims to provide assistance to teachers who may be experiencing difficulties which is impacting on their performance in the classroom. Minister Hanafin said "we can all face difficulties in our lives that make it difficult to do our jobs to the best of our abilities. Difficulties such as family problems, ill health, bereavement and stress can affect any of us.  The new service aims to address, at the earliest stage, problems that a teacher may be experiencing. Ideally what it will be looking to do is tackle issues before a problem manifests itself and affects a teachers' performance in the classroom setting, which ultimately affects pupils.

The new Employee Assistance Service is the first stage of process of developing an Occupational Health Strategy for teachers.  The EAS is intended to provide a range of supportive psychological health services to teachers.  Services will include free short term confidential counselling as well as critical incident debriefing.  These new services will assist individual teachers and school communities in developing positive work relationships, improve communication and enhance well-being."

The Department of Education and Science sought proposals on the open market for the provision of the service to teachers, from suitable providers.  Following a successful tendering process, it is proposed that, subject to contract, the Employee Assistance Program for teachers will be administered through VHI Corporate Solutions.

The program being offered by VHI Corporate Solutions will be designed to support the health and well-being of teachers which will in turn positively affect work quality and performance.  The service will incorporate confidential counselling on issues such as health, relationships, addictions, bereavement, stress, conflict, critical incident and trauma for up to 55,000 registered teachers employed in recognised Primary and Post Primary schools throughout the Republic of Ireland. 

ENDS