Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills with reference to the public service reform document published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 17 November 2011, Appendix IIa, Bodies to be rationalised, Amalgamated or Abolished in 2012, the progress that has been made on those bodies; the changes that require legislation; the expected timeframe for conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4285/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Under the Public Service Reform plan the following were identified for rationalisation:

The merger of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology & Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Science into consolidated single council under HEA.

The amalgamation of Further Education and Training Awards (FETAC), Higher Education and Training Award Council (HETAC) and National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) into one body the QQI.

The reduction of the number of VECs from 33 to 16.

The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences were merged in March 2012 to form the Irish Research Council (IRC). The IRC has been established as a sub-board of the HEA.

Under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), the Higher Education Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Further Education Training Awards Council (FETAC) were amalgamated into a new agency, the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on the 6th November, 2012.

In June of 2011, I announced that the Government had approved a revised reconfiguration of the Vocational Education Committees system. The Government decision confirmed that the number of VECs would be reduced to 16.

The Education and Training Boards Bill was published on 5th October 2012 and completed second stage in the Dáil on October 17th 2012. The Committee Stage was completed on 17 January 2013 and the Report and Final Stages are scheduled to take place on 12th and 14th February 2013. It is expect that the Education and Training Boards will be established in early 2013.

In section 8.1.iv of the Public Service Reform plan in addition to the rationalisation of the VECs there is a commitment to legislate for the establishment of SOLAS, as the Education and Training Boards would acquire training functions previously under the auspices of FÁS. As part of the reorganisation of FÁS and the creation of the National Employment and Entitlements Service (Intreo) by the Department of Social Protection, FÁS Employment and Community Services (over 700 staff) was transferred to the Department of Social Protection in January 2012.

The passing of primary legislation is required for the establishment of SOLAS. The Further Education and Training Bill 2013 has recently been published. The Bill will, among other things, provide for the establishment of SOLAS, the dissolution of FÁS and the transfer of the FÁS training division to the newly formed Education and Training Boards.