Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Feb 1999

Vol. 499 No. 4

Written Answers. - Vocational Education Committees.

Jack Wall

Question:

164 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the staffing problems in Kildare VEC offices; if his Department has met or arranged meetings with the union involved; if his attention has been drawn to the vast difference in staff numbers between Kildare VEC office staff and other vocational education committees of similar capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3010/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I have been aware for some time of staffing difficulties in County Kildare VEC and I have met with the VEC in the matter.

The allocation of clerical, administrative and maintenance staff in the vocational education sector is made on a scheme-wide basis and it is a matter for each vocational education committee to deploy sanctioned staff in the best manner possible to meet the needs of the committee and its schools.

The Deputy will be aware that any case for an increase in staffing has to be approached in the context of Government policy on public service numbers and staffing norms in the vocational education sector as a whole.

County Kildare VEC has made a number of representations to my Department concerning the adequacy of staffing levels in the scheme in view of the increase in pupil numbers and the expansion of programmes. Arising from these representations, my Department carried out an examination of the staffing levels in 1995. In addition, the grading structure of the VEC was evaluated by an independent consultant. Arising from these reports, the clerical staff complement for County Kildare VEC was increased from 15.8 to 17.8 posts and a new senior management grade was created in the committee. This allocation was arrived at on the basis that it compared favourably with other schemes of similar size. Further increases in the administrative staffing compliment of the VEC have since been approved by my Department to support the ESF and PLC student maintenance grant schemes and the operation of the VTOS and Youthreach programmes.

A recommendation of the independent consultant was that the need for the appointment of an assistant principal officer in the VEC should be reviewed at a later date. My Department has agreed to have this review carried out and is engaging with the committee and IMPACT, the union which represents the clerical and administrative staff in the VEC sector, concerning the detailed arrangements for this review.