Minister appoints Chair Designate to Education and Skills Authority

Education Minister Caitríona Ruane has appointed Mr Seán Hogan Chairperson (Designate) of the new Education and Skills Authority (ESA).

Announcing the appointment of Seán Hogan the Minister said: “This appointment is a significant step in the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority. I congratulate Seán on his appointment and look forward to working with him in tackling the challenges ahead.

“This is an exciting time in education as we work to implement a progressive reform programme for the benefit of all in our schools. The establishment of the ESA will see a fundamental reform in the administration of education. ESA will play a key role in improving the delivery of education to our children and young people and raising standards at all levels. I know that Seán’s skills and experience will enable him to make a valuable contribution to education.”

Speaking about his appointment, Mr Hogan said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed Chairperson (Designate) of the Education and Skills Authority. I believe education has the power to open doors at every stage in life. We need to ensure the highest standards in education are available to all and I look forward to contributing as we begin a new chapter in the future of our schools”.

Notes to Editors:

1. Seán Hogan is a Masters Graduate from Queens University Belfast in Organisational Management and has his own management consultancy company.

2. He holds Fellowships with the Institute of Directors, the Chartered Management Institute and the Royal Society of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

3. The appointment is effective from 27 August initially as Chair (Designate), and then as Chairperson of ESA for a term of three years from the establishment of ESA on 1 January 2010.

4. The Chair of ESA will receive annual remuneration of £33,000.

5. A photograph of Mr Hogan is available on request from the Department of Education on 028 9127 9701 or by email to press.office@deni.gov.uk

6. The appointment was made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. A selection panel which included an independent assessor as required under the Commissioner’s Code, considered the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on the appointment rested with the Minister.

7. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published. Mr Hogan has declared that he has not undertaken any political activities.

8. Mr Hogan currently holds three other public appointments. As Chair of the AgriFood & Bio Science Institute he receives remuneration of £24k per annum, as a non-executive Director with the N I Transport Holding Company he receives remuneration of £12k per annum and as a non-executive Director of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority he receives remuneration of £6k per annum.

9. The Review of Public Administration was launched by the Executive in June 2002 to deliver wide-ranging and comprehensive modernisation and reform across the public sector. The review established the need for a new single Education and Skills Authority (ESA) to support the operational delivery of education across the north of Ireland and across all sectors of Education.

10. ESA is being established by statute as a Government sponsored public body (i.e. Non-Departmental Public Body) and will be a body corporate operating within a framework of policy, legislation and accountability developed by the respective funding departments, ie DE and DEL.

11. ESA will replace the five Education and Library Boards and the functions currently performed by the Council for the Curriculum Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the Youth Council. It will also take on the front-line support and related functions currently undertaken by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS), the N I Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) and Comhairle na Gaelscolaiochta (CnaG). Some of the functions currently performed by the Staff Commission for the Education and Library Boards will be absorbed into the Authority while others will no longer be required. Some functions from within the Department of Education will also transfer to ESA.

12. Media queries to the Department of Education Press Office on 028 9127 9701. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.