Departmental Agencies Issues

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Questions (155, 237)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

155. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will ensure that An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta's budget will remain ringfenced in the future under the new arrangement based on the decision he made to merge COGG with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; if COGG will be in a position to make its own decisions regarding its budget in the future; if the board of COGG will be responsible for the management of COGG or if the NCCA will take over; his plans to reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2676/13]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

237. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way he will ensure that An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta budget will remain ring-fenced in the future under the new arrangement based on the decision he made to merge COGG with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; if the COGG will be in a position to make its own decisions regarding its budget in the future; if the Board of COGG be responsible for the management of COGG or will NCCA take over; his views on whether it would be better to reverse this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2565/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 237 together.

I have made the decision to integrate COGG within the NCCA on an administrative basis. Funding for COGG will be provided as a sub-head within the NCCA budget from 2014. It will be ring-fenced for COGG activities.

It is intended to review the legislation pertaining to both organisations in order to determine whether a more formal statutory arrangement between the two bodies is required. The Board of COGG is very large. In the context of the review of the legislation, the replacement the existing COGG Board with a smaller Board will be considered. The reporting arrangements for the new COGG Board and its relationship with the Council of the NCCA and with the Department will also be examined. No decision has been made on this yet.