Noel Dempsey
Ceist:224 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Education his views on the cost effectiveness of regional technical colleges since they gained their autonomy under the Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992. [5998/96]
Written Answers. - Regional Technical Colleges.
The Regional Technical Colleges Act, 1992, as amended, provided a statutory framework for new management structures in the colleges which were previously managed by the vocational education committees. As part of the implementation of this legislation an evaluation was carried out of the management requirements and staffing needs of the regional colleges as modern institutions of higher education having regard to the norms in analogous colleges of higher education.
On the basis of this evaluation I approved the establishment of new management structures in the colleges which included the creation of a number of new posts such as registrar, secretary/financial controller, head of development, personnel officer and finance officer.
I am satisfied that this will ensure acceptable financial control arrangements in the colleges and will contribute to the ongoing development of systems and processes which will facilitate necessary public accountability and provide for the evaluation and improvement of cost-effectiveness, within individual institutions and throughout the system as a whole.