Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the extended executive powers of chief executives of education and training boards; her further views on having so much power vested in one person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47435/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Section 12 of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, details the reserved functions of an Education and Training Board (ETB), to be performed by resolution of its members. Section 13 of the Education and Training Boards Act specifies that every function of an ETB that is not a reserved function shall be an executive function of the board and shall be performed by the Chief Executive of that board.

The division of ETB functions into reserved and executive mirrors the approach previously set out in the Vocational Education (Amendment) Act 2001.

I believe that the provisions of the ETB Act 2013 strike a reasonable balance between those functions to be performed by the board and those to be performed by the Chief Executive.

The Deputy should note that section 15(1) of the ETB act specifies that the Chief Executive of an ETB shall perform the executive functions of the board and section 15(4) provides that a Chief Executive of an ETB shall be accountable to the board for the due performance of his or her functions.

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on circular letters and directives from her Department that may be interpreted differently by chief executives in the 16 education and training boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47436/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department issues circulars and directives on a wide range of issues. They may include matters which have a direct bearing on the operation of Education and Training Boards (ETB). At all times my Department seeks to provide clarity in respect of matters referred to in such circulars or directives and to avoid situations where differing interpretations can be taken, whether by a Chief Executive of an ETB or any by other interested party.

If the Deputy has a specific circular or directive in mind and provides me with the particulars, I will ask my officials to take the matter up with the relevant Chief Executive of the ETB, issue a clarification if necessary, and update you in due course.