Michael Noonan
Question:74 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will appoint the education disadvantage committee as provided for in legislation. [12292/01]
Vol. 535 No. 2
74 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will appoint the education disadvantage committee as provided for in legislation. [12292/01]
75 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has established the long promised committee on educational disadvantage; the details of its composition; and the terms of reference in this regard. [12306/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
I launched the educational disadvantage committee on 12 February 2001. It will be chaired by Professor Áine Hyland, Vice-President and Professor of Education, University College Cork. It is intended that the committee will be established shortly and to that end the consultation process has commenced. I recently invited organisations, both voluntary and other bodies which have objectives or experience in the area of tackling disadvantage, to provide a nominee who would be willing to serve on the committee and-or forum.
The final size and composition of the committee will be structured with a view to ensuring that it can do its work in the most effective way possible.