Following the Government Decision to create SOLAS, an Implementation Group was set up to establish SOLAS. I am chairing this Group and its membership includes representatives from the Department of Education and Skills, FÁS, the Irish Vocational Education Association and the Department of Social Protection. The Group has been meeting regularly to drive the process forward. The Heads of a Bill for the establishment of SOLAS have been approved by Government and have recently been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for drafting purposes.
Given the complex elements involved, and subject to enacting appropriate legislation, it is envisaged that the process of establishing SOLAS will be completed by the end of 2012. Funding was transferred to the Department of Education and Skills from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in 2010 at the time of the transfer of responsibility for FÁS to this Department. Funding for SOLAS will be dealt with as part of the establishment process of the agency, in line with public financial procedures, including the annual Estimates process.