Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 12, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “(d) enter into arrangements with, and provide support services to, education or training providers, in accordance with section 22*,”.

The purpose of these amendments is to permit education and training boards to operate education facilities jointly with bodies that are not education and training boards and, in certain circumstances, to provide support services to such bodies. It is something to which the Minister, Deputy Quinn, referred previously. Schools are subject to increasing demands and principals must not only exercise leadership roles in the school communities but also be responsible for the day-to-day back office functions that are integral to all organisations. In times of constrained resources, when we are compelled to seek best value for money, there is an opportunity to tap into existing expertise in the VECs.

Amendment No. 11 inserts a new section 22 which provides that an education and training board may, with the Minister's consent, enter into an arrangement with an education or training provider for the joint performance of any of the board's functions. This will be subject to terms and conditions agreed between the board and the provider. The section specifically refers to land and project management but these are merely examples. The Minister for Education and Skills is given the discretion to direct an education and training board to perform functions jointly with an education or training provider where a provider makes such a request. This section also introduces an enabling provision to permit education and training boards to provide support services to other education or training providers if requested. Those support services could include matters such as procurement, human resources, finances, ICT and corporate governance. The provision of support will be subject to ministerial consent and the agreement of terms and conditions between the parties. The Minister will also be empowered, on foot of a request from an education or training provider, to direct boards to provide support.

It should be noted, however, that the legislation does not place an obligation on education or training providers to avail of support services. By way of example, while the Minister might direct an education and training board to arrange to supply services to schools that are not covered by the education and training board in a locality, the legislation does require not them to avail of such services. In this way, it remains open to other providers to use or decline services that may be arranged or provided directly by a board. Education and training boards may also be requested by the Minister to assist a board in implementing a direction. Amendment No. 4 includes these co-operation and support service provisions as functions of the new bodies.

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