Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

While the Department of Finance is running rings around the Minister and her Department, school authorities cannot make these appointments because they do not know the number of posts, if any, they will be allocated next year. I are talking about the positions of year heads, programme co-ordinators and examination secretaries, key middle management posts within our education system, which cannot be filled now because the Minister has allowed the Department of Finance to run rings around her.

Is it the case that her Department has given specific financial help to schools where a post holder has retired and the task undertaken by that person cannot now be done within the school? In how many instances has that occurred? I am aware of one where, as I understand it, the Department gave financial help either to the school or to employ a separate person to ensure that examinations could take place. Can she advise the House how many specific instances have occurred where the Department has given such financial help to schools?

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