WELB managers to be paid £714,000

The seven education bosses will receive a total of 714,000 combined once the Minister approves the pay award within the Department of Education (DE).

The pay-out is an increase on the sum spent on managers' salaries in 2007/8 when eight senior managers were paid 740,000 (an average of 92,500); and on last year when eight senior managers were paid 777,000 (an average of 97,125).

The figures refer to those senior management posts, at Grade 5 and above, in the WELB.

Answering a query from SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan at Stormont the Minister explained that the Education and Library Boards had confirmed the number and salary costs of senior management posts but that the 2009/10 award still required her imprimatur.

"Please be advised that the 2009/10 pay award (for performance during 2008/09) has not yet been implemented for these senior management posts as it currently remains under consideration," she stated.

"As Minister of Education I have the ultimate responsibility for approving this pay award within the Department."

In the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) area five senior managers will be paid an average of 105,000 this year; in the North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB) four managers will be paid an average of 102,250; in the Southern Education and Library Board five managers will be paid an average of 88,800; and in the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) six managers were paid and average of 77,667."

Under the Review of Public Administration (RPA) Mrs Ruane proposes phasing out the five Education and Library Boards (ELB) and replacing them with a the Education and Skills Authority in order to save money and improve performance.

The reshuffle will "transform administration and enable more resources to be available for schools, benefiting our children and young people."

However, political deadlock has hampered the establishment of the ESA thusfar.

The implementation of the ESA will involve a period of major change ahead and the Department of Education says it is committed in providing all staff with regular updates on progress with implementation of the RPA.