Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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301. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties particularly in rural areas caused by the review of domestic travel and subsistence rates effective payable to members of education and training boards and statutory committees and that the new regime is creating difficulties in attracting suitable members from the community sector, in view of the fact that they find themselves out of pocket; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37257/17]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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302. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated annual savings from the review of domestic travel and subsistence rates effective payable to members of education and training boards and statutory committees introduced on 1 April 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37258/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together.

Travel & Subsistence arrangements for ETB Board and Committee members have been aligned with public sector norms in accordance with revised Department of Public Expenditure and Reform arrangements. This was the main driver of the revisions in the ETB sector as distinct from a requirement to achieve further savings.

These revised T&S arrangements took effect from 1 April 2017. The revised arrangements were also put in place across the public sector, including in the local authority sector, to which the ETBs have been traditionally linked. The T&S arrangements are outlined in Department Circular 0039/2017.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is not desirable to deviate from public sector norms in relation to travel and subsistence arrangements. However, my Department has indicated that it will be happy to receive feedback in due course on any effects arising from the changes after they have had time to bed in.

As each ETB is responsible for the payment of Travel & Subsistence to its members, my Department is not in a position to give an estimation regarding annual savings, if any, arising from the review of domestic travel and subsistence rates. The Deputy might also wish to note that some of the revised rates are higher than those applying heretofore.