I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together.
It would not be appropriate for me to comment on matters pertaining to a specific case involving an individual employee of an Education and Training Board (ETB). ETBs are separate statutory bodies established under the Education and Training Board Act 2013 and there are agreed procedures for the management of disputes within those organisations, including for the management of protected disclosures.
Notwithstanding these processes an individual employed by Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB) has been in contact with my Department since early 2018. Having reviewed the issues raised in that correspondence in conjunction with the criteria as laid down in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 the matters raised did not appear to fall within the parameters of the 2014 Act as the actions described were not relevant wrongdoings but rather workplace grievances.
My officials outlined to the correspondent the options available to them to resolve those grievances in light of agreed procedures between employers and employees in the education sector including referral as appropriate to the Workplace Relations Commission.