Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 533: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number and names of organisations or agencies under his auspices that have been amalgamated or eliminated due to budgetary measures; the estimated savings in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42218/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The following measures were taken by my Department as part of the Government's programme for the rationalisation of agencies.

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) will be amalgamated into a single agency. It is difficult to quantify savings until more detailed work on administrative planning is undertaken. It should be noted that the primary reason for the amalgamation is not to achieve cost savings in themselves, but to ensure a more coherent approach by establishing a single integrated organisation. Savings would not arise from the abolition of functions but from efficiencies resulting from them being performed by a single body.

The Educational Disadvantage Committee was abolished. If provision was to be made for the Committee's reconstitution it would have been of the order of €100,000 per annum.

The National Adult Learning Council (NALC) was disbanded. The expenditure incurred on the National Adult Learning Council was as follows:

€21,012 in 2002;

€59,491 in 2003.

The Council has not met since 2003 and no further expenditure has been incurred. It is estimated that to have proceeded with the Council as originally envisaged would have involved significant additional annual expenditure.

The Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education was closed. Recurrent annual funding for the Centre was in the region of €1 million.