Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 244: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if robust service level agreements between parent Departments and State bodies are now in place for all non-commercial State agencies. [4572/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As the Deputy will be aware, an extensive programme of reform has been ongoing since this Government came to office. The recently published Public Sector Reform Plan identifies the introduction of new arrangements for managing the performance and governance of State Agencies as a deliverable action. Such arrangements will include the greater use of Service Level Agreements with Departments that focus on outputs and outcomes.

Taking into account work undertaken in the context of the TPS programme, it is my Department's understanding that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform intends developing guidance on best practice in relation to the governance of State Agencies and their relationships with their parent Departments and their respective roles. Officials in my Department will work with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in order to progress this action. In relation to my Department the following are examples of agreements in place or being developed:

Arrangements for the operations of FAS are the subject of a detailed annual budget and operational policy letter, which include arrangements covering governance, spending, activity, prioritisation and other matters, and which also includes provision for ongoing monitoring of outputs and outcomes. These arrangements are the subject of frequent detailed communications and reporting throughout the year between my Department and FAS, reflecting both agreed arrangements and policy adjustments as necessary. These arrangements will be the subject of further elaboration when arrangements are finalised for the replacement of FAS with SOLAS, the new Further Education and Training Authority

A Memorandum of Understanding is currently being finalised between my Department and the National Council for Special Education

A Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and the Higher Education Authority has been finalised and will be signed shortly.

In addition, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Higher Education & Training Awards Council and the Further Education & Training Awards Council are soon to be amalgamated into a single agency, the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland, and the introduction of a Service Level Agreement between my Department and the new agency will be examined following its establishment.