asked the Minister for Education if 30 September of each year is regarded as the effective census date by his Department for the purpose of the creation and appointment to posts of responsibility by vocational education committees.

17.

asked the Minister for Education the names of all vocational education committees that use 30 September each year as the effective census date for the creation and appointment to posts of responsibility.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.

A census of pupils effectively enrolled on 30 September is taken each year. This date applies to vocational schools, under all vocational education committees. The numbers and grades of posts of responsibility in a vocational school for any school year is determined by the points rating of the school, which is calculated by reference to the number of pupils at 30 September and their ages at 1 February of the previous school year.

May I take it that 30 September is absolutely definitive as far as the Department are concerned in relation to the points rating for the approval of posts of responsibility? There appears to be some confusion among different VECs as to the effective date.

The effective date is 30 September.

In all cases?

That is my reading of it.