Departmental Bodies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2011

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

Ceisteanna (115, 116)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

136 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of any organisation under his Department which has informed him of staffing difficulties which may impinge upon its ability to oversee effectively the spending of public funds; and his views regarding same. [28368/11]

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

137 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the organisations under his Department for which an employment control framework has been agreed; the current numbers they have in place; if they have been waiting more than one month to receive sanction to proceed to fill or retain any positions in spite of such positions falling below the agreed ECF ceiling. [28384/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 136 together.

The current Employment Control Framework agreed for my Department covers the period 2010 to 2014 and comprehends staff working in a range of bodies and organisations across the education area. Details regarding the framework and the bodies and organisations covered by it are set out in the table.

Under the terms of the Framework my Department has delegated sanction to fill vacancies arising in certain areas, subject to the ceiling figures for those areas not being exceeded, e.g. in the cases of teachers, special needs assistants, certain non-teaching staff in schools and staff at third level. In other cases, in line with Government policy and the moratorium on public sector numbers, requests for exceptions to the Moratorium must be sought from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform prior to the awarding or renewal of an employment contract. Such requests are considered promptly by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the decision communicated to the body requesting the exception. In a small number of cases further information regarding particular vacancies has been required by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which has had the effect of extending the period before a post can be filled.

Each area of my Department, together with the bodies and agencies under the aegis of the Department, is required to order and prioritise its work and working practices to take account of any limitations resulting from the application of the Employment Control Framework. This process of effectively managing staffing resources is ongoing and is regularly monitored with a view to ensuring continued effective delivery by the Department of its key services.

Employment Control Framework for the Education Vote Group — version September 2011

Functional Classification	Org./Body Name	End 2010	2011 ECF Ceiling	2012 ECF Ceiling	2013 ECF Ceiling	2014 ECF Ceiling
	Total	96,074	95,212	95,912	96,764	97,437
1. Civil Service	Total	1,589	1,569	1,549	1,524	1,504
Includes:	National Council for Special Education
	State Exams Commission
	Department of Education & Skills, incl NEPS
	National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
	Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
	Residential Institutions Redress Board
2. Education Sector	Total	93,050	92,269	93,059	93,994	94,710
Includes:	First Level Education	41,504	41,279	41,991	42,787	43,292
	Primary Teachers
	Clerical Assistants
	Caretakers
	Model Schools and other projects
	Special Needs Assistants
	Second Level Education	32,990	32,741	32,828	32,975	33,195
	Secondary, Vocational and C&C Teachers
	Clerical Assistants
	Non-Teachers in VECs and in C&C Schools
	Special Needs Assistants
	Third Level Education (core-funded posts)*	18,556	18,249	18,240	18,232	18,223
	Universities/HEA Institutions
	Institutes of Technology
	Colleges of Education/Non-HEA Institutions
	Dublin Dental Hospital
	Royal Irish Academy
	Royal Irish Academy of Music
	Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
3. Non-Commercial State Agencies	Total	1,435	1,374	1,304	1,246	1,223
Includes	National Qualifications Authority of Ireland
	Further Education & Training Awards Council
	Higher Education & Training Awards Council
	Grangegorman Development Agency
	Higher Education Authority
	Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology
	Irish Research Council for the Humanities & Social Science
	National Centre for Technology in Education
	Teaching Council
	FÁS

*Other posts at third level/higher education are not subject to ECF ceilings. These include (i) non-core funded research and related posts funded from Exchequer resources external to the institution and (ii) other research and/or specialist non-Exchequer funded posts.