46. (1) Within 30 days of receipt of the Performance F38[Statements] prepared in accordance with section 44, the Agency shall submit to the Minister F39[and the Minister for Education] a business plan for the year.

(2) A business plan shall—

(a) be prepared in accordance with the Performance F38[Statements] developed by the Minister F39[and the Minister for Education] under section 44,

(b) outline the Agency’s proposed activities for the period to which the business plan relates and the performance targets relating to those activities,

(c) detail the proposed allocation of the total resources (both financial and human) of the Agency for the period to which the plan relates,

(d) include a statement of estimated income and expenditure relating to the plan that is consistent with the determination of the expenditure notified pursuant to section 45 in respect of the period to which the plan relates,

(e) contain any other information specified by the Minister F39[or, in respect of the education welfare functions of the Agency, the Minister for Education], and

(f) accord with the policies and objectives of the Minister F39[, the Minister for Education] and the Government as they relate to the functions of the Agency.

(3) In preparing the business plan, the Agency shall have regard to the Performance F38[Statements] developed by the Minister F40[and the Minister for Education] under section 44, any corporate plan in operation at that time approved under section 42 and any direction by F38[the Minister concerned] given under section 47.

(4) The Agency shall implement the business plan prepared in accordance with subsection (2) unless the Minister F40[or, in respect of the functions of the Minister for Education under this Act, the Minister for Education], within 30 days of the submission of the plan, directs the Agency in writing to amend the plan if, F38[in the opinion of the Minister concerned], the plan—

(a) does not contain any information required under subsection (2),

(b) does not comply in any other respect with subsection (2), or

(c) has been prepared without regard to the matters specified in subsection (2) or (3).

(5) When giving a direction to the Agency under subsection (4), the Minister F40[or the Minister for Education, as the case may be,] shall give his or her reasons in writing for the direction to the Agency.

(6) The Agency shall comply with a direction under subsection (4) within the period, if any, specified in the direction.

(7) The Agency may amend a business plan, in accordance with a direction under subsection (4), and where it does so subsections (2) to (6) shall apply, with any necessary modifications, to the preparation of the amended plan as they apply to a business plan prepared under subsection (1).

(8) The chairperson shall—

(a) inform the Minister F40[and, in respect of the education welfare functions of the Agency, the Minister for Education,] of the measures taken to achieve the priorities determined and the performance targets established under this section and of the outcome of those measures, and

(b) provide that information at intervals specified by the Minister F40[concerned] or, if no such intervals are specified, in the annual report.