Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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478. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the newly appointed general secretary of Education and Training Board Ireland has accepted the permanent post while maintaining their previous permanent post as chief executive of the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board; and the reason she is standing over the decision taken to facilitate the newly appointed general secretary in holding two permanent posts (details supplied) in view of the fact the holding of two permanent posts in the public service is unheard of. [21298/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Education and Training Board Ireland (ETBI) is the representative body for the ETB sector and not a body under the aegis of my Department.

I understand that the General Secretary post of ETBI was advertised by the Public Appointments Service in June 2020 and the candidate information booklet set out the skills and competencies required by applicants for the post. The booklet also advised that the board of ETBI were open to considering applicants on the basis of secondment from their present posts where such applicants were employed in the public service. It is not unusual for such posts to include secondment options.

In this case, my Department were advised that the successful candidate had been in a senior position in an ETB and would be seconded from their ETB to the ETBI post. This secondment is initially for a period of one year. This person therefore does not hold two permanent jobs.

In line with the requirements of public sector appointments, in early August my Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and approval was given to the ETB where the successful candidate is employed to commence the process of filling the senior post there in an acting capacity. My Department understands the competition to fill that acting post has now concluded with the successful appointee taking up the role on 7 September 2020.