Reports today speculated that Ms Ruane could be moved and replaced by her party colleague Martina Anderson. But a senior party spokesman said: " This is total nonsense from the paper."

While the DUP recently revamped its Executive Ministerial team, following the election of Peter Robinson as new party leader, Sinn Fein has signalled it was not planning a reshuffle.

Ms Anderson said: "The job is not on my radar. I have only recently been made an MLA and I'm working hard on policing although I do have a great interest in education."