Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken to date to fulfil the commitment in the programme for Government to make substantial cuts to the number of State bodies and companies; the number of such bodies and companies under his remit; the number that have been reformed, merged or abolished since March of this year; the plan in place within his Department to deliver fully on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32849/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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For the Deputy's information, work is ongoing in my Department with regard to: - the amalgamation of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the Further Education and Training Awards Council and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. The new agency will be known as the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (QQAAI). - the establishment of a new further education and training authority to be called SOLAS (Seirbhísí Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna) SOLAS and the disbandment of FÁS. - the restructuring of the VECs.

The Deputy may also be aware of the proposal to dissolve the Education Finance Board on the establishment of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund. I intend to publish the necessary legislation at the earliest opportunity. In addition, since September 2011, the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) is within the remit of Dublin West Education Centre alongside the Department's largest support service, the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). The process of integrating the functions of the NCTE with the support services and with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is underway. The new configuration will ensure greater integration of ICT within teaching and learning both in terms of policy and practice and will deliver synergies in this regard.

In May 2011, the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. For the Deputy's information the following is a list of those bodies currently under the aegis of my Department:

- An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) - Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) - Education Finance Board (EFB) - FÁS - Further Education & Training Awards Council (FETAC) - Grangegorman Development Agency - Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) - Higher Education Authority (HEA) - Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) - Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) - Léargas The Exchange Bureau - National Centre Guidance in Education (NCGE) - National Council for Curriculum and Assessment NCCA) - National Council for Special Education (NCSE) - National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) - Residential Institution Redress Board (RIRB) - Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) - Skillnets Ltd - State Examinations Commission (SEC) - The Teaching Council.