10/09/2014

Single Education Board To Be Created

Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has welcomed the Executive's agreement that legislation should be brought forward to create a single body to replace the five existing Education and Library Boards and their Staff Commission.

Speaking after the Executive meeting, Mr O'Dowd said: "Had it been possible to secure agreement on the Education Bill, then the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) would have been in place for April 2015. However, despite my best efforts, that agreement was not forthcoming. In these circumstances the Executive has agreed to withdraw its current commitment to establish ESA.

"I now have the Executive's agreement for my Department to begin work on legislation to replace the existing five Education and Library Boards (ELBs) with a single body. The new body will assume the responsibilities of the ELBs as they currently exist, including employer responsibilities. The proposed Bill will also include a provision for my Department to fund a new body to provide support for controlled schools."

(CD)

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