Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will deal with an issue regarding the supervision-substitution scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [10535/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The issue referred to by the Deputy relates to the allocation of the 5% administration fee provided for in the Supervision/Substitution scheme. The current arrangements for the allocation of the 5% administration fee provide for the allocation of the fee on the basis of 2.5% towards VEC administration staff and 2.5% to schools. These arrangements are set out in my Department's Circular 26/2009 and only apply with effect from the commencement of the 2008/09 school year.

These arrangements were put in place following agreement with the relevant staffing and management interests, namely the Teachers' Union of Ireland, IMPACT and the Irish Vocational Education Association. Accordingly, there is no scope for my Department to apply these terms retrospectively.

The arrangements in place for the administration of the Supervision/Substitution scheme in VEC schools prior to the 2008/09 school year are a matter for individual VECs. In the case referred to by the Deputy that is Co Kerry VEC (Kerry Education Service). My Department does not have any role in determining the arrangements made by Co Kerry VEC in respect of the distribution of the administration fee prior to the 2008/09 school year.