I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together.
The following are the Bills published by my Department between 2011 and 2016.
1. Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011. A RIA was completed;
2. Education (Amendment) Bill 2012. A RIA was completed;
3. Education and Training Boards Bill 2012. A RIA was completed;
4. Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2015. A RIA was completed;
5. The Technological Universities Bill 2015. A RIA was completed;
6. Teaching Council Amendment Bill 2015. A RIA was completed.
7. Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014. A RIA was not completed as it amended previous legislation.
The Guidelines on RIAs published in 2009 by Department of the Taoiseach set out the following impact categories for consideration, where relevant, in regulatory impact assessments.
- National competitiveness
- The socially excluded and vulnerable groups
- The environment
- Whether there is a significant policy change in an economic market, including consumer and competition impacts
- The rights of citizens
- Compliance Burden
- North-South and East-West Relations
In line with the Guidelines, these impacts have been considered by my Department, where relevant, in Regulatory Impact Assessments on Bills.