Vol. 557 No. 4
209 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress to date on the implementation of the Cromien Report on the operation of his Department; and the time scale for the full implementation of the report's recommendations. [22173/02]
On foot of this report, my Department has embarked on a major programme of structural reform which has five core elements – a focused movement of certain functions from the Department; specifically examinations, delivery of special education and transfer of the Department's current role in relation to the institutes of technology to the Higher Education Authority; the establishment of a regional office structure; regulatory reform and appellate processes to underpin key allocation functions; implementation of a wide range of efficiency measures designed to bring the Department's procedures and processes more into line with modern administrative practice; and arising from the above, a greater focus on core functions with particular emphasis on policy and planning.
The Government decided in June 2001 that work should proceed on the establishment of an examinations commission, a special education service, regional offices and the transfer of responsibilities relating to the institutes of technology to the Higher Education Authority. My Department has recently concluded consultations with trade unions and staff interests on the implementation of these measures. It is intended that they will be implemented at an early date.
