Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2019
112. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the steps taken to amend legislation as promised in the programme for a partnership Government to give authority to An Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta to employ its own staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18180/19]
View answerThe Policy on Gaeltacht Education 2017-2022 states that "arrangements will be put in place, subject to the approval of the Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to amend the authority of COGG on a statutory basis so that it is enabled to recruit staff".
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) was established on an administrative basis under Section 31 of the Education Act 1998. The Department has no plans at present to amend Section 31 of the Act.
The Department ensures that COGG has the capacity and resources in terms of accommodation and staff with relevant educational experience to execute this co-ordination role in addition to its current responsibilities.
COGG’s current staff compliment comprises 4 administrative staff, including the CEO, who are Civil Servants seconded from the Department of Education and Skills and 5 Public Servants (teachers) seconded in. COGG also has access to temporary contract staff as the need arises.
If COGG was established on a statutory basis as a Civil Service body, additional resources would be required to pay for corporate services provision such as HR and Payroll. These services are currently provided free of charge to COGG by the Department and the NCCA. An additional cost for independent services is not commensurate with the size of the organisation or with value for money principles. Furthermore the secondment of teachers to support the delivery of functions is a standard practice across a wide range of the Department’s bodies.
