Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

304. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff within her Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities that are presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19030/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department currently has a member of staff based and working in Brussels as Education Attaché in the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union. The post-holder is Attaché for both my Department and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The Education Attaché has involvement in education issues at all levels in which European policy co-operation is being developed and in Ireland’s participation in European Programmes, including Erasmus+, the European Social Fund, the European Globalisation Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative as well as the European Education Area Initiative, the EU Education and Training Strategy and European Semester process. In addition, the Attaché represents the Department on the Education Committee, the OECD Education Policy Committee in Paris and participates in related OECD activities, as necessary.

In addition, a member of my Department's staff who is currently on special leave without pay, is working with the European Commission.

There are currently no posts based in the European Union in Brussels vacant.

The position on 23 June 2016, was that my Department had an Education Attaché in Brussels and another employee of my Department was seconded to the European Commission in Brussels as Seconded National Expert to the Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture.