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Departmental Agencies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011

Tuesday, 25 October 2011

Questions (128)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

144 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide the following information regarding the agencies operating under the aegis of his Department (details supplied); the number of whole time equivalent staff; the number of board members; the chairperson and board members respective remuneration packages; the annual wage bill; and the amount of central funding provided to the agency inclusive of wage bill [30743/11]

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Written answers

Information is provided in the table that follows this reply in respect of certain bodies currently under the aegis of my Department. The information relates to WTE Staff (as of 3rd Quarter 2011); Number Board Members (current); Board Members Remuneration Fees (per annum); Annual Wage Bill (2010); and Funding either provided through the Department (2010). In relation to a number of the bodies listed by the Deputy that have been excluded from the attached table she should note that both the Inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) are integral parts of my Department and are not separate bodies; the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) is now under the aegis of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; from September 2011, the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) is no longer an aegis body of the Department but is within the remit of Dublin West Education Centre alongside the Department's largest support service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST); the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, the Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Irish Academy of Music are not considered to be bodies under the aegis of my Department but instead are deemed to have the same ‘status' as the universities and ITs and as such are considered part of the Higher Education sector; and the Commission on School Accommodation Needs has been abolished and the staff retired. Any work it did is now done by the Department.

Agency Name

WTE Staff (3rd Qtr 2011)

Number Board Members (current)

Board Members Remuneration Fees (per annum)

Annual Wage Bill (2010) (€000s)

Funding provided through the Department (2010) (€000s)

Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG)

3

21

Nil

214

1,715

Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA)

6.8 (see note 1)

6

See Note 1

419

2,261

Education Finance Board

3.8 (see note 2)

9

Nil

See Note 2

See Note 2

FÁS

1,897.48

11

Chairperson: €20,520 Ordinary Members: €11,970

108,811

666,8981

Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC)

36

14

Nil

2,799

5,200

Grangegorman Development Agency

7

15

Chairperson: €8,978 Ordinary Members: Nil

482

1,357,055

Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC)

27.8

15

Nil

2,221

1,3002

Higher Education Authority

52.2

19

Chairperson: €11,970 Ordinary Members: €7,695

3,157

5,5003

Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET)

5

14

Nil

303

21,8004

Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Science (IRCHSS)

4.6

11

Nil

321

11,200

Léargas Ltd — The Exchange Bureau

31.4

5

Nil

2,239

1,195

National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE)

6

11

Nil

365

659

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)

22.8

25

Nil

1,862

3,837

National Council for Special Education (NCSE)

108.6

13

Nil

6,031

8,216

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI)

22.8

11

Nil

1,496

2,438

Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB)

28.5 (See note 3)

11

See Note 3

1,374

43,193

Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC)

See Note 3

6

See Note 3

Incorporated into RIRB figures above

Skillnets Ltd.

19

12

Chairperson: €8,978 Ordinary Members: €5,985

1,494

14,3305

State Examinations Commission (SEC)

196.896

5

Chairperson: €11,970 Ordinary Members: €7,695

45,579

54,2867

The Teaching Council8

30.5

37

Nil

1,900

Not Applicable

1Funding provided from 1 May 2010, when responsibility transferred to the Department of Education and Skills.

2While HETAC’s allocation from the Exchequer in 2010 came to €1.3m they also received approximately €1.9m in fee income. They receive fees from their providers (e.g. ITs, private providers etc) in respect of the wide range of services they provide, such as validation of programmes, certification etc.

3This figure relates only to the administrative costs of running the Higher Education Authority.

4Figures provided for both of the Irish Research Councils (IRCSET & IRCHSS) relate primarily for research scholarships.

5Skillnets Ltd is funded through the National Training Fund.

6SEC WTE figure includes 45 temporary staff as of 30/09/2011.

7This figure for the SEC is net of income from fees.

8The Teaching Council has been self-financing since March 2009.

Note 1: Staffing in the Commission comprises of 6.8 WTE, 3 are full-time civil servants and 3.8 whole time equivalents are on temporary contracts.

Note 2: Staffing of the EFB comprises 3.8, 1.8 of which are secondments from the City of Dublin VEC and 2 are on fixed-term contracts. The operation of the Education Finance Board is funded by €12.7 million of the original contribution made by the religious congregations under the Indemnity Agreement for educational support for former residents and their families. The only financial contribution that the Department has made to the EFB relates to monies paid in respect of Travel and Subsistence due to some Board Members.

Note 3: Ordinary board members of both the RIRB and RIRC are paid a per diem rate which is currently €668 per day (with pension abatement rules applying were appropriate). The Chairperson of the RIRC is in receipt of a Supreme Court judge's pension. His salary by the Department taking into account pension abatement has been voluntarily reduced. The chairperson of the RIRB who is a member of the Judiciary retains his judicial salary. The Redress Board avails of the services of an additional legal secretary up to one WTE per annum via an employment agency. Her salary is not included in the annual wage bill. The Review Committee has the services of an administrative assistant via an employment agency and also has the services of 0.7 WTE registrar post involving two staff.

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