IT has almost been business as usual at the Department of Education over the past 12 or so months.
The absence of a minister at Rathgael House has had little impact on some big - well, bigish really - decisions being made.
Bigger decisions can and will wait.
Permanent secretary Derek Baker has cleared a lot off his desk, appearing happy to make decisions, a lot of which have had cost implications.
Before Mr Baker, no education permanent secretary had ever approved a school for closure since devolution.
Typically, 'development proposals' for closures, mergers and expansions are always followed by a two-month consultation period. After that, a minister will receive reports and guidance from officials before deciding whether or not to approve.
Given the need for action by specific dates, Mr Baker has signed off on about 20 proposals affecting 26 different schools - this includes three approved for closure already this year.
Other decisions concerned saving money - although two of these were overturned and neither involved massive amounts.
The department had instructed the Education Authority to cut the amount spent on school uniform grants for low income families by £3 million but later changed its mind.
The Curriculum Sports Programme, which involves gaelic and soccer coaches visiting primary schools, was also due to end. Extra money was found, however, allowing it to continue. About £1.3 million is spent by the Department of Education annually.
Overall budgets are being slashed across the system meaning cuts must be made.
Cost saving decisions that involve substantially higher sums are being left alone, however.
A report spelling out how to save almost £30 million annually on home-to-school transport has now sat on the shelf for more than three years.
The incoming minister will likely be under pressure to take a look at underachievement among children. A Stormont inquiry designed to tackle it was scrapped soon after it was launched. The cross-party education committee had begun collecting evidence.
The second School Enhancement Programme is on hold. Decisions are needed on the number of school capital projects, at a value up to £4m, to enable planning to commence.
In addition, decisions are needed on the funding of approved shared education campus projects under the Fresh Start Agreement funding.
The Executive’s draft Ten Year Childcare Strategy has been through a public consultation process and proposals for a final strategy are at an advanced stage of development. Final strategy actions and associated budgets will require ministerial and Executive approval prior to publication.
The new minister will also be looking at regulations relating to pre-school admissions.
And, an overall 2018-19 budget settlement has yet to be agreed, along with related decisions on the allocation of funding to individual programmes.
