Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills, with regard to the appointment of a new chief executive to lead the new merged Wicklow Kildare Vocational Education Committee, if that position is being filled based on merit or seniority; the process being followed to fill that position; and the criteria being used in making the appointment. [30168/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My officials have recently concluded an agreement with SIPTU, the trade unions representing the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of VECS, on a redeployment scheme for CEOs in the context of the Croke Park agreement.

This scheme will be used, in the first instance, for determining the appointment of CEOs to the new VEC bodies, following the enactment of the relevant legislation. The agreed scheme provides an opportunity for those appointed (other than in a temporary acting capacity) in the grade of CEO of a Vocational Education Committee to elect for redeployment to the new CEO positions. Where there is more than one volunteer for any of the new CEO positions, the scheme provides for the position to be offered, in the first instance, to the most senior eligible volunteer.

In the event that the elective process does not result in the filling of all of the posts, the scheme provides for assignment of an existing permanent CEO to a post for which s/he has not volunteered or for appointment of a holder of an analogous post in the Public Service to any of the available positions in accordance with the provisions of the Croke Park agreement.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills, with regard to the decision to make Wicklow Vocational Education Committee a sub-office of the newly merged VEC for Counties Wicklow and Kildare, the criteria used to decide whether Wicklow or Kildare should host the main VEC centre; the weighting that was allocated to each criterion; how each VEC scored against these criteria; if a cost analysis was done as part of the decision making process; the amount that was forecast to be saved by basing the main VEC centre in Kildare rather than in Wicklow; if he will release the full cost analysis that was done, including all input assumptions; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the staff in Wicklow learned about the decision through the news media; if he is satisfied that this is an appropriate way to treat staff; and the rationale for releasing the decision to the media first. [30171/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In arriving at my decision in relation to the location of headquarters of the merged VECs, I considered a range of factors including the need to ensure that the location of a VEC headquarters will, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate staff redeployment under a redeployment scheme within the context of the Croke Park Agreement and the need to operate at lowest cost having regard to the accommodation available in existing locations.

The distance between Naas and Wicklow exceeds the 45km distance agreed under the Croke Part Agreement in relation to redeployment and may preclude redeployment of staff currently employed in Wicklow to Naas and vice versa. Consequently, I decided that a sub-office would be required for the foreseeable future. A cost analysis of leasing arrangements and staff residential addresses having regard to the criteria for redeployment in the context of the Croke Park Agreement would have involved a time consuming exercise which would not have been justified over the longer term, particularly given the decision to maintain both offices for the foreseeable future. Consequently, no such cost analysis was carried out. In determining Naas as a headquarter location I was aware that both VECs are very closely matched on the criteria mentioned above. I am satisfied that geographically, Naas is the most favourable location for the headquarters.

It is regrettable if staff of Co Wicklow VEC were caused any upset on learning about the decision to locate the head office of the merged VEC in Naas and to have a sub office in Wicklow on the news. However, I was aware that my decision in relation to the locations of the headquarters was eagerly awaited by the VECs, their staffs, students and the wider population around the country. In this regard, I am satisfied that it was important to put that decision in the public domain as soon as possible.