I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.
Any bullying issues concerning an employee of a school are a matter for the Board of Management of the school concerned and as Minister I have no role in relation to such matters. I can confirm that the Board of Management of the school to which the Deputy refers in June 2011 suspended the principal of the school having considered a report of an investigation into alleged bullying. The Board informed the Department that the suspension with pay was pending a disciplinary hearing under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998. The Board requested the Department as payroll agent for the Board to continue the payment of salary until the necessary investigations were carried out and the matter was brought to a conclusion.
The person who was suspended claimed his suspension was disproportionate and unlawful and secured leave from the High Court to take Judicial Review proceedings. A stay was placed on a meeting that the Board had arranged for 20 September 2011 under the disciplinary procedure. Earlier this year and prior to the hearing of the Judicial Review case, discussions took place between the legal representatives of the school and the person concerned. In the context of these discussions the litigation, by agreement of the parties, did not proceed, the person concerned wrote to the Board vacating his position with effect from 31 August 2012 and the disciplinary proceedings that had been initated by the Board of that school have been terminated.
In the context of these discussions the Department arranged for the person concerned to be assigned as a teacher to the Co. Kildare VEC scheme where he has been assigned to carry out principal duties for the remainder of the current school year and for the 2012/13 school year arising from a vacancy in a principal post. In light of his assignment to the VEC his position with the school in County Laois was vacated with effect from 1 June 2012 when he transferred to the VEC payroll. In relation to the vacancy concerned the Department had separetely indicated to the VEC that the filling of the vacancy through permanent recruitment should not apply pending the completion of an analysis of how the future education needs of the area would be planned for and met. My Department is satisfied that the assignment of the person concerned, which did not require an interview process, ensured an efficient deployment of resources by Kildare VEC.
