Vol. 465 No. 6
184 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction additional office staff to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if sanction will be given to upgrade the existing clerical officer, grade three, to assistant staff officer, grade four, in view of the increase in duties and responsibilities. [10092/96]
The allocation of clerical staff in the vocational education sector is made on a scheme wide basis. My Department has sanctioned a total of 19.5 clerical staff whole time equivalents for the County Donegal Vocational Education Committee. It is a matter for the vocational education committee to redeploy existing staff in the best manner possible to meet the needs of its schools. In accordance with the Government decision of 6 June 1995 on Public Service employment, which also applies to the vocational education committees, no additional posts over and above those in place on the 6 June 1995 can be created.
Regarding the question of upgrading an officer from clerical officer, grade 3 to assistant staff officer, grade 4, the position is that the grading structure in schools and community colleges in the vocational education committee sector is a matter for determination under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for clerical and administrative staff. In December 1995 IMPACT, which represents school secretaries, submitted a claim under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for the regrading of school secretaries nationally. As agreed with the union this claim falls to be processed under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. As the claim is a matter for negotiation with the union concerned it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on any issue encompassed by the claim.
