Vol. 490 No. 7
24 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will publish in full the 1995 Estimate which stated that the proposed regional education boards could cost up to £40 million to run (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10960/98]
While in Opposition I attempted without success to get the last Government to indicate what the proposed regional education boards would cost. As I have previously informed the House, on becoming Minister I discovered that the cost implications of establishing the regional education boards were considered as part of the process of finalising the White Paper on Education.
However, while the House had proposals for their establishment before it, there was no detailed time schedule for introducing the boards. The intention was that the establishment of the boards would take place on a phased basis, with a gradual transfer of functions to the boards, within a costed and approved plan, prepared by each board and approved by the Minister.
Even though this was repeatedly requested by many Deputies no comprehensive detailed costing exercise was actually carried out.
However, it was estimated that, on the basis that in 1994 the administration costs of the vocational education system and the health boards were £14 million and £44 million, approximately, tentative preliminary estimates suggested that the operational costs of the regional education boards could cost up to £40 million. As I have said on a number of occasions, I believe we could have had a more honest debate if this figure had been revealed when requested.
