Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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270.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will be prioritising the progression of any specific pieces of legislation prior to the Dáil summer recess; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24698/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently progressing two items of legislation which are as follows:

Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill

This Bill has two main purposes - to enable the provision of a number of supports to survivors of abuse in residential institutions and to formally dissolve Caranua.

The Bill was published on 22 April 2024 and Dáil Second Stage was completed on 1 May 2024. Dáil Committee Stage is scheduled to take place on 19 June 2024.

Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

The purpose of this legislation is to make some necessary technical amendments to education legislation. Following the decision to restructure Departments in 2020, certain functions were transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS).

This final phase of the Transfer of Functions (ToF) process aims to ensure that both the Minister for Education and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science have appropriate statutory powers to carry out their respective functions and to deliver the schemes and programmes under their respective remit. As at April 2024 both DoE and DFHERIS have agreed to transfer relevant functions currently vested in the Minister for Education to the Minister for Education and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through primary legislation. The legislative amendments will be progressed through the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions). This Bill has been included in the Chief Whips Office Summer Programme for Priority Legislation for drafting.