Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the hardships being caused to post-primary schools as a result of the decision to review the appointment of assistant principals and freeze all payments for allowances for newly appointed individuals until this review is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11483/12]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a situation at a post-primary school (details supplied) in which two assistant principals have been appointed but cannot take up their positions as a result of his Department's decision to freeze payment allowances pending a review of all new appointments to this grade; the advice he will offer to the school in this instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11484/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.

In his address to Dáil Éireann on December 5th 2011 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced that Public Service bodies will have to achieve a reduction of 5% in the cost of allowances and premium payments in 2012. In order to achieve the necessary reduction, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is conducting a review of allowances and premium payments across the Public Service. Pending the outcome of this review, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has advised my Department that delegated sanction for the payment of allowances to new beneficiaries is withdrawn with effect from 1st February 2012. The only exception to the prohibition on the awarding of new allowances is Principal and Deputy Principal Allowances.

I understand that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will advise of the outcome of the review shortly. As Minister for Education and Skills I am conscious of the difficulties that the current situation imposes on schools, particularly in regard to the filling of Assistant Principal positions. The position is that schools may continue to appoint persons to Assistant Principal posts, where they have the approval of my Department to do so. However, because of the withdrawal of the sanction to pay allowances to new beneficiaries, an allowance for such a post may not be paid. This position has been communicated to the school.