Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)

Following the Government decision to create SOLAS, an implementation group which I chair was set up to establish the entity. A public consultation on the establishment of SOLAS involving key stakeholders was completed earlier this year. The heads of a Bill for the establishment of SOLAS have been approved by Government and I expect to publish this legislation during the autumn session. Following the establishment of SOLAS, more than 700 staff from the FÁS training division will commence transferring to the education and training boards. The establishment of SOLAS is part of a complex range of related reforms, including the transformation of the 33 VECs into 16 education and training boards. In advance of the establishment of the education and training boards a number of joint projects are already under way between the VECs and FÁS which will assist in the transfer of FÁS training services to the boards.

See this speech in context