I can confirm that there is a designated North-South cooperation unit in my Department. There are 5 (3.8 wte*) staff currently working in the North-South cooperation unit. The grade breakdown of these staff is as follows: 1 (1 wte) principal officer (vacancy); 1 (1 wte) assistant principal officer; 1 (1 wte) higher executive officer (vacancy); 1 (1 wte) administrative officer (vacancy); 2 (1.5 wte) executive officers; 1 (0.8 wte) staff officer; 1 (0.5 wte) clerical officer. Data on the numbers of staff who have worked in the North-South cooperation unit in my Department from its establishment in 2000 to end 2011 are set out in the table.
Department of Education and Skills North/South Co-operation Unit - Staffing
YEAR ENDING 31 DEC
|
Headcount
|
Whole-time equivalent*
|
Year-on-Year Change
|
2000
|
5
|
4.5
|
N/A
|
2001
|
4
|
3.5
|
-1
|
2002
|
7
|
5.6
|
+2.1
|
2003
|
5
|
4
|
-1.6
|
2004
|
8
|
7
|
+3
|
2005
|
8
|
7
|
0
|
2006
|
7
|
5.8
|
-1.2
|
2007
|
8
|
6.8
|
+1
|
2008
|
8
|
6.8
|
0
|
2009
|
8
|
6.3
|
-0.5
|
2010
|
8
|
6.3
|
0
|
2011
|
5
|
3.8
|
-2.5
|
*whole-time equivalent
NOTE
In addition to the above, a principal officer had overall responsibility for the Department’s international section plus North-South cooperation unit. That officer’s involvement in the work of the unit varied depending on demands of the work and as such has not been included in above figures.