Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm the schedule now being followed in respect of the establishment of the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board; if he will provide details of the management of the new board and arrangements for headquarters' accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19796/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Education and Training Boards Bill concluded all stages in the Seanad on 23rd April last. As amendments were introduced in the Seanad it will be necessary to return to the Dail after conclusion in the Seanad. The Bill is scheduled to be taken in the Dáil to report back on the Seanad amendments on Thursday, 2 May. Following enactment of the Bill, I will determine a date for commencement of the Act and the establishment of all of the Education and Training Boards, including the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board.

In October 2011, my officials concluded an agreement with SIPTU, the trade union representing the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of VECs, on a redeployment scheme for CEOs in the context of the Croke Park agreement. Arising from the implementation of the redeployment scheme, Mr Paddy Lavelle has been assigned as CEO Designate to the Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board. His appointment as CEO of that Education and Training Board will commence in accordance with Section 14(5) of the Bill on the day which is appointed by Order pursuant to Section 8 of the Bill, once enacted.

Also, in October 2011, I announced the headquarter locations where VECs are being merged as a result of the Government decision to reduce the number of VECs to 16. In relation to the specific merger of Co. Dublin VEC and Dun Laoghaire VEC, I have decided that the headquarters of the Education and Training Board will be in Tallaght. I expect that headquarters staff of Dun Laoghaire VEC will move to the designated headquarters location in Tallaght as soon as feasible. While the detail of the arrangements of the move will be a matter for the CEO of the new Education and Training Board to work through and judge what the best approach is to ensure the optimum approach to service delivery, I expect that the office in Dun Laoghaire will remain open for some time and that the approach to redeployment will be measured and considered. The establishment of SOLAS is also likely to have a bearing on the precise arrangements to be made.