Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that ETBs no longer have the authority to grant cover for workforce leave as they did prior to the moratorium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49479/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The arrangements in relation to the allocation of teaching posts, and to the allocation of special needs assistants to all schools, including ETB schools, are set down in various circulars issued by my Department. In relation to such posts, schools and ETBs have autonomy in relation to the recruitment and replacement of staff within the agreed approved staffing allocation granted to the school in question and subject to relevant procedures and criteria set out in circulars from my Department.

My Department also provides each ETB with an administrative and maintenance staffing allocation and associated pay budget to support its individual ETB schools and head office. It is the responsibility of each ETB to recruit and manage staffing levels within this allocation, including the assignment of such staff to the different functional areas in the ETB in accordance with the needs and priorities of the organisation. In line with the position across the public sector generally, every ETB must also operate within overall approved staffing and pay budgets for its administrative and maintenance staff.

In relation to ancillary staff in schools, ETBs have discretion to temporarily employ a substitute for existing ancillary staff in schools who are temporarily absent due to sick leave etc. where the temporary absence would otherwise result in either no secretary, caretaker or cleaner being in the school on the day(s) in question; and where the ETB can fund the temporary employment of the substitute from within its existing pay budget for non-teaching staff.

However, ETBs are required to seek prior approval from my Department for new posts or to replace existing sanctioned administrative and maintenance posts, whether on a temporary or permanent basis. In considering such requests, my Department will consider factors such as the particular circumstances and need arising for the ETB concerned and will also have regard to the affordability of the post, or replacement post, within the administrative and maintenance pay budget of the ETB itself and within the relevant pay budget for the ETB sector as a whole.

I can confirm over recent years that my Department has, as resources permitted, granted a significant number of additional administrative and maintenance posts to the ETB sector. In that regard, in the period since 2015, my Department has increased the number of approved posts in Head Offices by 29% across the sector.

I can also confirm that the vast majority of replacement Head Office administrative posts sought by ETBs are granted by my Department. For example, since 2017, 85% of such requests have been granted.

My Department remains committed to supporting ETBs and will continue to work closely with individual ETBs and with the sector collectively to ensure they are adequately resourced to deliver their important work.