Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 30 June 2015, if she is aware that the institutes of technology are not following the provisions of the Employment Control Framework at present, as they are allowing publicly-funded positions to be filled by the local Bishop, rather than based on objective criteria around the best interests of students; if she is aware that there is gender discrimination within this practice, as these State funded positions, awarded by Bishops to Catholic Priests, are essentially public jobs from which women are excluded; and her plans to address this matter. [30476/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that chaplain roles within the Prison Service are routinely advertised through the Public Appointments Service; and if she will introduce a mechanism to ensure that institutes of technology follow this process. [30477/15]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 30 June 2015, the recourse available to the Higher Education Authority if the recruitment of chaplains is not in line with public sector appointment criteria or the Employment Control Framework for the sector; if she is aware of the fact that most of the recruitment to these positions within the Institutes of Technology is not in line with public sector appointment criteria or the Employment Control Framework for the sector; the plans the HEA has to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31490/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1198, 1199 and 1286 together.

My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions, including Institutes of Technology. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution.

Most third level institutions provide chaplaincy services for their student body and decisions on such provision is a matter for the individual institutions as autonomous bodies. Chaplaincy services can be provided by way of either the appointment of a chaplain as a member of staff of the relevant institution or by the provision by the diocese/other appropriate body of a chaplaincy service by way of a contract for services.

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