Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response from the Department. The Department states in the response that in the period since 2015, it has increased the number of approved posts in head offices by 29% across the sector. Of course that is because of the lifting of the moratorium so they are getting back to where they were. The point is that the ETBs had this autonomy and independence in the past. It was taken away from them during the financial crisis and the moratorium, and they wish to see it relaxed and to get it back. Why is it necessary for an ETB to have to go to the Department for permission to replace somebody going on maternity leave or on a career break or somebody who is out with a serious illness? That is the question that has not been answered in the Department's reply. Could I ask the Minister of State to go back to the Minister for Education to get those questions answered in relation to restoring the autonomy that the ETBs once had?