25 WELB staff at risk will learn fate in June

Fifteen staff in WELB were also employed on temporary contracts before July 2011, the Minister revealed.

The human resource department in WELB began the process of determining which posts at risk will be filled on a permanent basis in February 2012 and will finish this review next month (June 2013). Mr O’Dowd explained 25 staff affected will be told of their fate after this.

He was asked at Stormont how many meetings had taken place between the various human resources functions in each Board and the temporary staff affected by vacancy control.

He replied: “The management of vacancies in line with the Department’s Vacancy Control Policy is discussed as part of regular staff briefings and meetings.

“There are no records of specific meetings between Human Resources staff and individual staff members.

“Trade Union representatives have been kept informed of the progress of the vacancy control review through the normal consultative process.”

In an entirely separate educational development, Mr O’Dowd said that 3,649 pre-school children had places for next year at the end of stage 1 of the admissions process.

And whilst 158 toddlers remained unplaced at the end of stage 1, 445 funded places were still available for the 2013/14 year.