Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 635: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the agencies, bodies or authorities under the aegis of his Department that have been scheduled for merging, amalgamation, abolition or sharing of services as announced in the budget 2009; the progress that has been made on the implementation of these organisational changes; the details of the implementation plan for these organisational changes; the cost savings that will arise from each of these organisational changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47059/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The following measures were also 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) are to be amalgamated into a single agency.

An Implementation Advisory Group, representative of the key stakeholders in the amalgamation process, has been formed to advise the Department of Education and Science in relation to the functions of the new organisation. An implementation paper will be produced covering the functions of the new agency and key legislative considerations. A period of public consultation will then take place, followed by legislation. Allowing for planning and consultation, it is anticipated that the legislative process will be complete and the new statutory agency will be established by the end of 2010. Options for closer co-operation and sharing of administration support between the existing bodies prior to statutory establishment are being explored.

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. It is anticipated that some savings will arise, inter alia, from the removal of parallel top level management and board structures and from the sharing of administrative support. Further work on administrative planning will be required before savings can be quantified.

The Educational Disadvantage Committee was formally abolished in October 2008. 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 formally disbanded in October 2008. 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 in September 2008. Recurrent annual funding for the Centre was in the region of €1 million.