Eric J. Byrne
Question:71 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education when the Further Education Authority, as envisaged in the White Paper on education, will be set up. [1505/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Further Education Authority.
The establishment of the further Education Authority is one important part of a number of organisational innovations to support vocational education and training outside the third level sector, and adult and continuing education, put forward in the White Paper on education. These include, principally, the establishment of a national certification authority, the designation of a special role for the education boards in these areas and the establishment of the Further Education Authority.
I have already established TEASTAS, the Irish national certification authority, on a non-statutory basis. Work is well advanced within my Department on the preparation of the legislative framework for the establishment of education boards. These are two important pillars of the approach to the organisational arrangements for the development of vocational education and training and adult and continuing education set out in the White Paper. There will be no undue delay in proceeding with the establishment of the Further Education Authority, as work advances in these two areas.