Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a 40/02 declaration has not been made in relation to the services agreement for chaplaincy services at a college (details supplied) in County Louth. [26135/15]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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542. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any special provision has been made for the funding of Roman Catholic chaplaincy services in institutes of technology, whether under regulations, legislation or otherwise. [26196/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 542 together.

I understand that most third level institutions provide chaplaincy services for their student body and decisions on such provision is a matter for the individual institutions as an autonomous bodies. My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.

The recruitment of staff is also a matter for individual higher education institutions and should be in line with public sector appointment criteria and the provisions of the Employment Control Framework for the sector.

In the particular case of the Institute of Technology (IoT) referred to by the Deputy, I understand the Institute has a contract for service with the Archdiocese of Armagh since 2010 for the provision of Catholic chaplaincy services, and also has similar arrangements in place for part-time Church of Ireland and Presbyterian Chaplaincy services.

I understand that the view of the Institute is that they are in a sole provider situation in terms of chaplaincy services, however, they are hoping to tender for general chaplaincy services in 2016.