Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I share Deputy Brendan Smith's sentiments and assure him that there is serious long-term planning within the Department. It has been reinforced since my arrival at its Marlborough Street headquarters. The Department has put in place a new design and build procurement process and mobilised additional resources from across the public sector. For example, the Office of Public Works has spare capacity because there is not a great deal of building activity. Moreover, personnel from the former National Building Agency have been made available to the Department to assist its Tullamore unit in direct procurement. In addition, I believe the Deputy mentioned the chief executive officer of County Louth Vocational Education Committee in an earlier question. The Department has mobilised the resources and executive capability in VECs to act as its agents to manage, procure and deliver building projects. For example, a substantial project of which the Deputy will be aware is under way in Monaghan town. This is a model for what might be done elsewhere to ensure the product is delivered on time and in the places in which it is needed. Moreover, the Department has a geographic information system, GIS, with which Deputy Crowe is familiar that makes predictions. It knows the location of every one-year old child whose parent is in receipt of a child benefit payment. With regard to the primary and, to a lesser extent, the secondary sectors, predictions can be made about population demand. The Department has the tools and recognition capacity to engage in forward planning.

As for the reform of the junior certificate, it is envisaged this programme will start with next September's intake of first-year students entering post-primary schools. However, it will not reach completion, in terms of the junior certificate or whatever name is given to the new examination, until 2020. It will cover an eight-year spectrum to start a programme of curricular reform, roll it out over time, on the assumption that the Department's timetable is reasonable, and then see youngsters going through the three-year cycle and sitting their examinations. Consequently, we must start planning now to achieve an effective change, but we also must recognise that of itself, implementation requires time to reach fulfilment.

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