The Government's legislative programme as it relates to my Department includes six Bills. The Qualifications (Education and Training) Bill, 1999, is at present under consideration by this House and I expect that it will be enacted in the near future. The Education (Welfare) Bill has been published and debated by the Seanad. It will be debated in this House in the next session with a view to enactment by the end of the year. The Regional Technical Colleges (Amendment) (Institute of Technology Blanchardstown) Bill is in the process of enactment and I expect that it will be enacted in this session. The general scheme of a teaching council Bill has been referred to the parliamentary draftsman's office and I expect to be in a position to publish that Bill during the summer recess. Enactment of the Bill is likely early next year. It is also my intention to publish in the autumn a Vocational Education (Amendment) Bill with a view to its enactment by the end of the year. Finally the general scheme of the youth work (amendment) Bill has been referred to the draftsman with a view to publication later this year.
Work is proceeding in my Department in implementing the Education Act, 1998. Implementation requires in many cases consultation with the education partners and consideration of organisational and resource issues. At present 21 of the 59 sections have been commenced. As the Deputy will be aware the Act itself requires that all its provisions must be commenced by the end of next year.