Brian Walsh (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if provision will be made for teachers currently engaged in the modern languages in primary schools initiative to be redeployed within the education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40912/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are over 270 part-time tutors employed by primary schools to deliver language tuition under the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative (MLPSI).

Under the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014, the Government gave a commitment that compulsory redundancy will not apply in the public service, save where existing exit provisions apply. Redeployment arrangements exist in order to ensure that surplus public servants covered by that commitment are redeployed into vacancies. Where a tutor employed by a school solely to deliver the MLPSI, the post is not regarded as a public service post for the purposes of the Public Service Agreement. The commitment against compulsory redundancy therefore does not apply.

Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the redeployment of staff who are disengaging from a creche facility (details supplied). [40915/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The employment of staff in Co. Limerick Vocational Education Committee is a matter for that VEC. I understand that the crèche run by the VEC in Shanagolden closed with effect from 31 December 2011.

Under the terms of paragraph 1.6 of the Public Service (Croke Park) Agreement, the Government has given a commitment that compulsory redundancy will not apply to permanent staff within the public service, save where existing exit provisions apply. To that end, redeployment arrangements have been developed in the public service to re-assign staff to comparable roles in the wider public service.

There were 7 permanent members of staff employed by Co. Limerick VEC in the crèche in Shanagolden. I understand that upon the closure of the crèche five of the permanent crèche staff opted for voluntary redundancy.

Co. Limerick VEC are working closely with officials in my Department to identify suitable vacancies within the wider public service to facilitate the permanent redeployment of the remaining 2 permanent staff of the crèche subject to the arrangements for redeployment of staff as detailed in the appendix to the Public Service Agreement which deals with redeployment arrangements for staff in the Education sector.

These 2 staff remain in employment with Co. Limerick VEC and are working in the VEC Head Offices since 3 January 2012 pending their redeployment to a permanent public sector position in line with the terms of the Public Service Agreement.