Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Ruairí Quinn.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
medium of Irish or English and that applications would be sought from patrons when this
decision was made.
In inviting applications for the new post-primary schools to be established on 2013 and 2014
patron bodies were informed about which schools would operate through the medium of Irish.
The new school to be established in Maynooth in 2014 will provide instruction through the
medium of English. However, one of the requirements that must be satisfied by prospective
school patrons is the confirmation of willingness to establish an Aonad where there is demand
for it (for a school where the primary medium of instruction is to be English). The closing date
for receipt of applications for new post-primary schools to be established in 2013 and 2014 is
24 February 2012. Full details of the new arrangements for patronage of new schools and the
criteria for deciding on patronage of these new schools are available on my Department’s
website.
Question No. 260 answered with Question No. 230.
Schools Refurbishment
261. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to a Parliamentary
Question No. 83 of 23 November 2011 the position regarding an application in respect of a
school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[8471/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): The school in question was allocated
devolved funding for the provision of a resource room and boiler replacement under my
Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme 2010.
The school authorities have sought additional funding towards this project and in September
2011, my Department’s Planning and Building Unit requested further supporting information.
When this information is received a final decision will be communicated to the school authority.
Question No. 262 answered with Question No. 220.
Question No. 263 answered with Question No. 237.
Departmental Staff
264. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the names
of the persons on the transitional teams he has established to manage the exodus of staff from
the public sector at the end of February; the number of teams that have been established; the
number of times each of the transition teams has met; and the reporting mechanisms of the
teams to the Government. [7748/12]
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Brendan Howlin): The Strategic Workforce
Planning Groups, which have been in place for a number of months, have been considering
the impact of reductions in public service numbers in the longer term as well as the more
immediate implications of the ending of the grace period.
However, the Government decided that in order to deal with specific short-term challenges
arising from the ending of the grace period, transition teams, drawn from the existing Workforce
Planning Groups, will manage the process in each of the five sectors: Health, Education,
Local Government, Justice and Defence and the Civil Service. Each Team, which is headed by
an Assistant Secretary in the relevant Department, will prepare a report for Government on
how the impact of the retirements before end-February will be managed. These reports will be
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