Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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681. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps which she is taking to address the current shortfall in the management structure at principal officer grade within the Education and Training Boards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30231/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department is engaged in a project to devise future complementary organisational designs for ETBs and SOLAS in order to reflect their new roles. The objectives of the project are to ensure that the ETBs and SOLAS are fit for purpose; to ensure that the organisational design of ETBs and SOLAS are aligned to their new roles and to each other; to put in place a plan with practical levers through which the journey to the new organisation design can be achieved.

My Department has received approval, subject to a number of conditions, from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for a proposed additional allocation of positions in ETBs at a level immediately below that of chief executive. The sanction has the effect of increasing the number of permanent senior manager positions from 13 at present to 44. The initial focus is on this level given acute shortages in the number of senior managers in the sector generally which has been identified by CEOs as a significant issue.

My Department is currently engaging with Education and Training Boards Ireland, chief executives of ETBs and with unions representing staff in the sector in relation to this matter.