Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of agencies, authorities and other bodies coming within his Department's remit that operate independent payroll systems; and the reason such a function could not be provided by his Department [6798/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department, most recently in the context of the Transforming Public Services strategy, has been evaluating the potential to secure savings and efficiencies by extending the use of shared services as widely as possible across the education sector. This consideration has included examination of the feasibility of operating systems of shared payroll services for bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department. Progress is being made in this area.

The payroll system operated by my Department provides payroll services for the Civil Servants employed directly in the Department and for staff in a number other bodies with similar type staff structures. These include the State Examinations Commission, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the Residential Institutions Redress Board, certain staff in the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse and An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. The Department is examining with other aegis bodies how their payroll systems can be operated in the most cost-effective manner. In some cases, including due to the specificities of the staffing structures in these bodies, the provision of a payroll service by my own Department may not be the most cost-effective solution.

My Department is also examining the potential for the movement of the Civil Service payroll to a common shared services platform to be operated by a central payroll services provider. In this regard, my officials are currently involved in discussions with potential providers.

The pursuit of the Transforming Public Services strategy in relation to payroll is also visible in a number of other areas of the education sector. For example, the Higher Education Authority has identified the progression of shared services and procurement initiatives in the sector as a key outcome for 2011 and is in ongoing consultation with the sector in relation to progression of such initiatives. With regard to the Institutes of Technology, new forms of enhanced collaboration are being considered, including the possible merger of payroll services. The University sector is now considering payroll systems in the context of a more extensive shared services vision, where critical mass and economies of scale strengthen the business case. Work is also progressing on the development of a shared payroll and financial services model for Vocational Education Committees. The business case for this proposal is currently being evaluated by the Department of Finance.

My Department will continue to encourage bodies across the education sector to harness the potential for savings and efficiencies offered by shared services technologies.