Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the areas and functions where responsibility has been devolved from her to a State or statutory agency; the agencies involved; the arrangements in each agency to respond on a priority basis to enquiries from Members of Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9921/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that while individual institutions in the education sector have varying degrees of autonomy according to their status and statutory provisions, the Minister has an overarching responsibility for education policy across all levels of the education system and responsibility for funding provided from the Education Vote.

My Department and all of the agencies under its remit are fully committed to providing a Quality Customer Service to all of our customers and to continually improving the standard of services provided. The arrangements in place in the agencies to respond to enquiries from members of Dail Eireann is a matter for the individual agencies.

There are a number of agencies that carry out functions or services provided for under statutory instruments:

Further Education & Training Awards Council — Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999

Higher Education and Training Awards Council — Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland — Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999

Higher Education Authority — HEA Act 1971 National Council for Curriculum and Assessment — Education Act 1998

National Council for Special Education — Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004

National Education Welfare Board — Education (Welfare) Act 2000

State Examinations Commission — State Examinations Commission (Establishment) Order 2003

Grangegorman Development Agency — Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005

An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta — Education Act 1998

The Teaching Council — Teaching Council Act 2001

Vocational Education Committees — VEC Act 1930