asked the Minister for Education the date on which he intends to appoint the steering committee for the proposed educational survey to be carried out in this country in conjunction with OECD, which he announced on 22nd June.
81.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Educational Survey.
80.
asked the Minister for Education what the composition will be of the proposed steering committee for the educational survey to be carried out in this country in conjunction with OECD.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 81 together. I hope to be in a position to announce the membership of the steering committee within the next three weeks. I am not in a position at present to make any further statement in the matter.
82.
asked the Minister for Education whether the terms of reference of the steering committee for the educational survey to be carried out in this country in conjunction with OECD will be clearly and exactly defined; if so, what those terms will be; and whether the terms will in any way overlap the terms of reference of the present Commission on Higher Education.
A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, I propose to circulate with the Official Report a copy of the terms of reference for the proposed study. It will be the function of the steering committee to lay down the broad lines of approach to be followed by the team which will be engaged in the day to day work of the project. I am satisfied that the study will not impinge on but will be complementary to the work of the Commission on Higher Education.
Following are the terms of reference:
PILOT STUDY ON LONG TERM NEEDS FOR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The following are the Terms of Reference for this Study, which, with assistance from the Committee for Scientific and Technical Personnel of OECD, it is intended to undertake shortly:—
(a) Preparation of inventory of the existing position in relation to skilled manpower. This would involve prior agreement on the definitions which would be applied to the various categories of workers.
(b) Framing of educational targets, including provision for research, in relation to the assessments to be made of overall needs for skilled manpower according to field of study and level of skill, for the next 10-15 years. Alternative estimates, made according to different basic assumptions, will take into account trends in economic and demographic factors, and also the experience of other countries.
(c) Assessment (on alternative basis) of future essential demand for educational facilities at different levels based on present trends and international experience and having regard to any other factors likely to influence such demand.
(d) Estimates of future enrolments at different levels of education, and by subject of specialisation, according to the alternative assumptions mentioned above.
(e) Interpretations of estimated enrolment figures in terms of the expansion of educational resources, i.e., teachers, buildings, equipment, etc., taking into account possible improvements in the quality of teaching.
(f) Evaluations of the expenditure entailed by the various alternatives for the expansion of educational resources—the evaluations should be expressed in relation to macro-economic data, such as GNP and volume of investment.
(g) Consideration of arrangements necessary to ensure the review of the position at intervals in the light of changing circumstances in the field covered by the study. In this connection to recommend the nature and extent of the additional statistical data concerning current activities which should be collected and the methods and frequency of such collections.
(h) The extent to which the foregoing assessments might be influenced by the provision of educational facilities in Ireland for students from other countries and of educational aid in the form of teachers and other trained personnel for service in the emergent countries.
83.
asked the Minister for Education whether the sanction of OECD will be required for the appointment of the chairman of the steering committee for the educational survey to be carried out in this country in conjunction with OECD; whether any members of this committee will be appointed solely by OECD; and, if so, how many.
The answer to both parts of the Deputy's question is in the negative.
The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.