Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the case being made by Donegal Vocational Education Committee for the public appointment moratorium to be relaxed to permit the advertisement and appointment of an Education Office and Estates Manager for the VEC. [17938/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy may be aware of the decision of the previous Government to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium in the public sector. In respect of Vocational Education Committees, including Co Donegal VEC, positions other than teacher and SNA posts in schools, and teacher equivalents that are directly providing tuition to pupils in schools, in special programmes or in adult and further education, are comprehended by this decision. It is a matter for each VEC to implement work prioritisation across different functions, and to deploy available staff to execute those functions. My Department received correspondence in July 2010 from Co Donegal VEC requesting sanction to fill the vacant posts of Education Officer (acting) and Estates Manager. My Department responded by informing the acting Chief Executive Officer that under the terms of the moratorium those vacancies could not be filled and recommending that Co Donegal VEC reorganises or reallocates staff. The proposal referred to by the Deputy was resubmitted as part of Co Donegal VEC's 2011 Service Plan, received by my Department on 27th June 2011. The matter will be reconsidered and my Department will respond directly to the acting CEO.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal submitted to him by Donegal Vocational Education Committee under the heading Curricular Programme for Development for Outdoor Education to become a mainstream education service with salaries paid by him, relieving the financial difficulties encountered by the VEC in supporting an outdoor pursuits/education centre (details supplied) on an ongoing basis [17939/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The proposal referred to by the Deputy was included in Co. Donegal VEC's 2011 Service Plan, received by my Department on 27th June 2011. Funding for outdoor education centres is approved on the basis that they are self-financing and that their financial activities would be separate from the overall VEC finances. Accordingly, my Department's annual grants are contributory in nature and the allocations go mainly towards the core staffing costs involved in running the centres. I have no plans to change the current funding arrangements.