Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I acknowledge the concern and frustration the Deputy has expressed. Nothing is worse than uncertainty in any aspect of one's life, let alone one's employment. The people involved were all permanent CEOs, with the associated entitlements, and they have co-operated with the Department in regard to the reconfiguration which, as the Deputy observed earlier, amounts to a massive national reform measure. I am hopeful that by the end of July or the beginning of August we will know who are the designated people. They will be working with the acting CEOs until the legislation is enacted and commenced. Once identified, the CEOs designate will immediately commence work with two acting CEOs or, as the case may be, one permanent CEO and an acting CEO, in which case the permanent CEO would have less seniority than the designated person who is coming in as the super-CEO.

I hope this initiative will bring certainty for the staff delivering the services. The VEC schools and colleges of further education and their client groups, that is, the pupils and learners, will not necessarily be affected by any of this. However, the delivery, management and administration of the system is already being affected. The sooner we know the identity of the CEOs designate, the sequence of appointments and so on, the sooner they can get to work in restoring the confidence and momentum that have been lost.

See this speech in context