Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he has taken to increase the efficiency and minimise duplication of function of the agencies operating under his aegis since coming into office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38722/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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With regard to agencies under the aegis of my Department the Deputy should note that:

- 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.

- Since June 2011, the functions of the National Educational Welfare Board transferred to the newly established office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs As the Deputy is aware my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is leading the development of a new integrated public service reform plan, details of which were announced on 17th November. With regard to bodies under the aegis my Department the following tasks have been identified for rationalisation:

- The establishment of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (QQAAI) which involves merger of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). The establishment of QQAAI will result in savings to the Exchequer. It should be noted that NQAI, HETAC and FETAC have already delivered very significant savings since the announcement of the amalgamation in October 2008 through implementation of the moratorium and through expenditure reduction across their range of activities. The bodies' exchequer allocation for current expenditure in 2011 (€8.823m) is approximately 30% lower than outturn in 2008. Further savings to the Exchequer of €1 million per annum will be achieved over time through further staff reductions in accordance with the Employment Control Framework, through rationalised corporate structures and supports and through integration of services.

- The replacement of the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs) with 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The ETBs will take over the work of VECs and will have an expanded role in the delivery of further education and training across the country. It is estimated that this rationalisation project will yield a saving of €3m over time. - The merger of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology & the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Science into a consolidated single Council under the Higher Education Authority. The Deputy will also be aware that a number of other major structural reform projects are being progressed in the Education sector. These are: The establishment of SOLAS, the new agency to reform, co-ordinate and fund further education and training programmes including developing a seamless interaction with the National Employment and Entitlement Service (NEES) on activation measures. A Single awarding authority for student grants. The City of Dublin VEC will operate as the new single student grant awarding authority to replace the existing 66 grant awarding bodies. Implementation of the new arrangements are being phased in from the 2012/13 academic year. The consolidation of Higher Education provision under the Strategy for Higher Education to 2030. It is also proposed 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.