Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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28. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider a derogation to the public sector hiring embargo for education and training boards, ETBs, that are experiencing a dearth of senior and middle management posts, for example, education officers, principal officers, assistant principal officers, adult education officers and youth officers due to retirements, which is impacting negatively on the performance by ETBs of their statutory functions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29664/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy may be aware that a new organisational design for ETBs is being devised in order to reflect their roles. To progress this, a consultative team has been established with representatives from my Department, the ETBs and SOLAS. In January 2014, pending the conclusion of this process, my Department gave approval to 9 ETBs, which did not have an Education Officer, to appoint a temporary Education Officer on an acting basis for a period of 6 months. Those ETBs which sought an extension to this arrangement had the sanction extended to 31st December 2014. In addition, my Department approved the filling, on an acting basis, of 13 business critical vacancies at middle and senior management in 5 ETBs. These measures were undertaken with the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.