AQW 6337/10

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 20/04/2010
Answered On Date: 11/05/2010
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education whether she intends to lift the moratorium on job evaluations within the Education and Library Boards, given the delay in establishing the Education and Skills Authority structure.

Answer:

Is fios do gach duine an mhoill atá ar bhunú ESA, ach geallaim duit go bhfuil a chruthú fós ina phríomhthosaíocht don Choiste Feidmhiúcháin agus go bhfuil dul chun cinn á dhéanamh tríd an Phlean Soláthair Choinbhéirseachta chun soláthar éifeachtach seirbhísí a chinntiú le linn na hidirthréimhse.

The delay in the establishment of ESA is well known however I can assure you that its creation remains an Executive priority and progress is being made through the Convergence Delivery Plan to ensure the efficient delivery of services in this transitional period.

With regard to the moratorium on job evaluations, this is applicable only to all new and re-evaluations and does not affect any evaluations already in the queue as part of the original job evaluation agreement. To this end therefore the priority for the Education & Library Boards is to complete all current outstanding job evaluations.

Furthermore, as you may be aware a ‘Review on Job Evaluation in the Education & Library Boards’ has been completed which includes recommendations on the most appropriate way forward, both in the interim period and for the longer term once ESA is established. You will appreciate however that the agreement of all parties, through the Joint Negotiating Council, to any proposed way forward is essential.

To conclude, therefore, once all current outstanding job evaluations are completed and the way forward agreed by all relevant parties the position regarding the moratorium will be reviewed.