Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek further information from County Cork Vocational Education Committee regarding allegations made by a former employee (details supplied) which are not linked to a court action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36346/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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On foot of a request from the Committee of Public Accounts for a note in relation to allegations made by the former employee referred to by the Deputy, my Department requested a note from Co. Cork VEC on the matters raised along with appropriate follow up action to resolve each of the matters.

Co. Cork VEC replied on 23rd April last advising that the former employee concerned is involved in two High Court Proceedings against Co. Cork VEC and that as a result the VEC is not in a position to provide a note at this time. On foot of this letter, my Department compiled a list of the complaints contained in the correspondence from the former employee concerned. The list contains 32 complaints and has been agreed by the former employee as being an accurate summary of the complaints.

On 15th May last, my Department forwarded the list of complaints to the Acting CEO of Co. Cork VEC with a request for the VEC to advise which of the complaints on the list were the subject of legal proceedings and to provide a note on, and to take appropriate action to resolve each of the other complaints. On 24th May last, the Acting CEO replied advising that Co. Cork VEC is "not in a position to or indeed willing to readdress the issues outlined." The letter briefly set out the history in relation to nine of the complaints which the former employee pursued through the Equality Tribunal and the Labour Court, but didn't identify the complaints concerned. The letter enclosed two letters sent in April 2008 from my Department to the former employee regarding a complaint in relation to her application for a teaching post.

On 15th June last, the Acting CEO advised my Department that the former employee has lodged a Notice of Appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court judgement dated 11th May 2012. The Acting CEO also advised that the former employee has lodged a separate appeal against a decision by the Circuit Court not to transfer a claim by her for damages to the High Court. The Acting CEO also stated that she considered that it would be inappropriate for her to comment further in view of the pending Court Proceedings. In the circumstances, my Department is not in a position at this time to pursue further enquiries in relation to this matter with Co. Cork VEC. My Department will, of course, cooperate fully with any request for assistance from the Committee of Public Accounts, any other Oireachtas Committee or from the Comptroller and Auditor General in their enquiries into this matter.