Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú:

A considerable amount of detailed work will need to be done in respect of transferring the training centres. By establishing SOLAS, it can continue to manage the responsibilities of FÁS while taking over overall policy advisory responsibilities in regard to the further education and training sector and work on the proposals to which Mr. O'Toole referred. It is a matter of ensuring the new arrangements are in place and planning to transfer the others. We found that a big bang transfer date would not work and it is more helpful to plan for a number of stages. We entered into a consultative process and have published an implementation plan. This is a huge programme of public sector reform when combined with the education and training boards established on Monday.

We have established an education and training reform office in the Department. We are bringing in experts to be part of that to help plan and work with FÁS and the ETBs in rolling out its implementation. It is a three- to four-year programme of change, which will involve the introduction of shared services, new ways of doing business and new financial systems in the ETBs in a consistent manner across all of them, and it will take a lot of work. We are conscious, for example, that we planned for the establishment for SUSI. Notwithstanding that, what is clear from the review we undertook is we did not plan sufficiently. We needed to invest as many resources in the initial planning for this, so that is why we are not jumping into the transfers. We are seeking to plan them appropriately and well. It is vital that there is continuity of provision because we are in an economic downturn and, technically, in recession again, and we need to ensure the provision of further education and training is not threatened by this and that no balls are dropped. That is the important thing that makes a difference for the learner on the ground. We are working closely with FÁS and the ETBs to ensure the transfer takes place as seamlessly and in as planned a way as possible.