Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 February 2014
69. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all specific new powers or functions conferred on local authorities by legislation under his area since June 2009 and a reference to the specific section or regulation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7029/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has enacted three pieces of legislation since June 2009 that provide for new powers or functions to be conferred on local authorities. They are:- The Education and Training Boards Act 2013, Section 30 of which confers on city and county councils the power to elect 12 members to each education and training board; - The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012, Section 25 of which provides for the coordination, where appropriate, of the activities of local authorities (and other public bodies) with those of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) and for the appointment by local authorities of employees to act as liaison officers when requested to do so by the RISF; and - The Student Support Act 2011 which repealed the Local Authorities (Higher Education Grants) Acts 1968-1992 and provided for a new statutory basis for the making of student grants by awarding authorities to enable eligible persons to attend certain courses of higher and further education. Awarding authority is defined within the Act to include a local authority. The Act provides for the functions of the awarding authority which include the powers to award and pay grants that existed under the repealed legislation for local authorities. Part 2 of the Act provides for some additional specific powers for an awarding authority in relation to the administration of the grants scheme including the power to carry out inquiries under the Act, the power to recover debt and to share data with a person listed in schedule 2 of the Act or a person prescribed pursuant to Section 28 of the Act for a 'relevant purpose'.
