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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Oct 2000

Vol. 524 No. 5

Written Answers. - Commencement of Legislation.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

457 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the Acts and provisions of Acts for the commencement of which an order or decision of the Government is required which have not been commenced by reason of the fact that such an order or decision has not been made; the plans there are for the making of such an order or decision in each case; if so, when such an order or decision will be made; the reason for the failure in each case to make such an order or decision to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23042/00]

My Department is in the process of implementing the Education Act, 1998. At present 51 of the 59 sections have been commenced. The Act provides that all sections must be commenced by 22 December. It is my intention that the remaining sections will be formally commenced before that date.

The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 was passed into law on 5 July of this year. Initial planning for commencement, including consultation with the education partners, is now under way with a view to having the Act commenced in full well in advance of the two year period provided for in the Act itself. As a first step in the implementation of the Act, I am establishing a designate board on a non-statutory basis for an interim period, to draw up detailed plans for implementing the various functions to be assigned to it under the Act. Following this interim period, the board will be put on a statutory footing and the various provisions of the Act will be commenced as appropriate. It is envisaged that membership of the designate board would, as far as possible, mirror that of the final board. My Department has requested nominations to the board from the education partners and relevant Government Departments. I will be in a position to establish the designate board once all of these have been received.
The Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999, was enacted on 13 July 1999. Much of the pre-commencement planning for this Act is now completed and I have recently indicated that I intend to bring the Act into operation in January 2001.
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