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Vocational Education Committees.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2009

Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Questions (394, 395)

Richard Bruton

Question:

450 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the guidelines he has issued to agencies within his Department, such as vocational educational committees, regarding the type of vacancies for which it will be possible to recruit despite the current embargo; and the system for processing exceptions that he has established. [18912/09]

View answer

Richard Bruton

Question:

451 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the guidelines he has issued to agencies within his Department, such as the vocational educational committees, regarding the type of vacancies for which it will be possible to recruit despite the embargo; and the system for processing exceptions that he has established. [18917/09]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together.

With regard to the majority of agencies under the aegis of my Department excluding the Vocational Education Committees the guidelines that issued make clear that the moratorium provides that with effect from that date, no public service post, however arising, may be filled by recruitment, promotion, nor payment of an allowance for the performance of duties at a higher grade.

In the case of the VECs the guidelines took the form of Circulars 0022/2009 and 0023/2009, a copy of which can be viewed on my Departments website. As the Deputy is aware posts other than teacher and SNA posts in schools (including VEC schools), are comprehended by the moratorium. Teacher and SNA posts will be governed by a ceiling that will be determined this Autumn and the allocation of teachers and SNAs resources to schools and VECs will be governed by this ceiling. I can clarify that this arrangement applies to teachers or teacher equivalents that are directly providing tuition to pupils in schools, in special programmes or in an adult and further education settings. A copy of each Circular follows for the Deputy's information.

In the area of Higher Education an Employment Control Framework is currently being developed to provide for the application of the moratorium to third level institutions. In the meantime higher education institutions have been asked to fill only essential academic and support posts subject to their not exceeding their current overall number of authorised posts. Vacancies in administrative posts generally may not be filled.

Where a body, such as a VEC, considers that a post which has become vacant and is subject to the moratorium should be filled, the body in question may communicate its view to my Department. If, having considered the request, my Department is also of the view that the vacancy should be filled, my Department will communicate and engage directly with the Department of Finance on the matter.

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