Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the financial or professional management of ETBs. [41372/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The restructuring of this sector since 2013 has strengthened and enhanced local education and training. It represents a major component of the public service transformation agenda. The new configuration has also facilitated new provisions including the establishment of SOLAS, the dissolution of FÁS and paved the way for the transfer of training functions and training centres to the newly formed ETBs.

ETBs carry out their duties in relation to the provision of education and training in accordance with Education and Training Boards Act 2013 and under the legislation that established SOLAS in 2013. The financial and professional management functions are carried out in accordance with the legislation, as well as relevant governmental and departmental circulars and the ETB's own strategies and objectives thereunder.

The implementation of these functions are benefitting from a number of current developments. 

To better reflect the reconfiguration of the sector, the senior management structure in ETBs has recently been augmented by the allocation of Directors of Schools, Further Education and Training and Organisation Support and Development to each ETB. Plans are also advanced for the establishment of shared services facilities in the areas of finance and payroll which should result in improved efficiency and consistency in financial and payroll management.

My Department also works closely with Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), on behalf of the sector, in relation to delivery of strategy and reform. ETBI has established forums representing functions of the ETBs, which provide a mechanism for ETB management to engage collectively on the further development of the relevant functional areas.