Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 October 2012
279. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in a tabular form a list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies that have been created since 9 March 2011;the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 budget for the body; the number of employees of the body and if the body engages manpower resources from outside the body. [47124/12]
View answerNo new agencies have been established under the aegis of my Department since March, 2011.
For the Deputy's information: The Student Grants Appeals Board was established in September, 2011. The Board has seven employees and has a budget of €45,948 for 2012.
The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences were merged into one entity - the Irish Research Council (IRC).
The Deputy may also wish to note the following:- In June 2011, the functions of the National Educational Welfare Board transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.- Since September 2011, the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) is within the remit of Dublin West Education Centre alongside the Department's largest support service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST).
The Deputy will also be aware that there are a number of major structural reform projects and other initiatives being progressed in the Education sector (of which some are included in the Public Sector Reform Plan published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform last November). These include:
The amalgamation of the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) / establishment of 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The ETBs will take over the work of VECs and will have an expanded role in the delivery of further education and training across the country.
The consolidation of Higher Education provision under the Strategy for Higher Education to 2030.
The establishment of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland which involves the merger of the National Qualifications Authority, FETAC and HETAC.
Following the enactment of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012, the necessary steps are being taken to establish the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board. This body will be funded from the contributions of the religious congregations offered in response to the request for additional contributions, following the publication of the Ryan Report. The legislation also provides for the dissolution of the Education Finance Board, which has almost exhausted the €12.7 million available to it, and the transfer of any remaining functions of the Education Finance Board to the new Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board.
