Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Questions (126)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

126. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta works concurrently and co-operatively providing resource materials to support the teaching of the Irish language both in schools teaching through Irish and in schools teaching through English, if additional staff will be made available to COGG in view of the fact that there are only three members of staff currently on the team undertaking the wide scope of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28833/13]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I am aware that COGG has a core staff of three. COGG has, in fact, a budget of €1.55m currently. The topics and the areas of research that COGG deals with are very varied. With its budget COGG has the flexibility to contract out work to experts in the field, as necessary. This allows COGG to benefit from the wide range of Irish language and teaching expertise which is available. I believe this is an appropriate approach to adopt to address the wide scope of its work. As COGG co-locates with the NCCA, this approach will continue to be taken.