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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Dec 1979

Vol. 317 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Consumer Education.

31.

asked the Minister for Education the measures taken to date to train teachers in consumer protection as per recommendation of European Commission in June this year.

I presume that the Deputy is referring to the EEC Commission Draft Action Programme of the European Communities with regard to consumers of 25 June 1979. This document has been submitted to the EEC Council for approval with the suggestion that the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee be consulted on the programme.

The draft action programme refers to the continuance of the work presently being undertaken by the Commission on a teacher training programme and to the Commission furnishing to the Council a communication on, inter-alia, teacher training and consumer education.

My Department are represented on the Commission's working party on teacher training relating to consumer education in schools. This working party has already had three meetings and will submit an interim progress report at the end of the year. On the basis of this research, a programme of experimental teacher training seminars will be drawn up with the Commission and my Department will be happy to co-operate in this programme.

On the general question of teacher training and consumer education, I am glad to inform the Deputy that my Department hope to be in a position to organise introductory courses for teachers to initiate them into consumer education programmes in 1980.

Can the Minister tell the House anything about the present approach to consumer education in schools? Does he think that this new programme will increase substantially the awareness among students of the needs in this area?

I would hope that the result would be that to which the Deputy refers. I am in total agreement with the thesis that the strength is all on the producers' side and that we should do everything we can to strengthen the consumers. To the extent that we can do this in the schools, we will do it.

32.

asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, to introduce consumer protection education in schools.

This matter is at present under examination by my Department in the context of the relevant recommendations by the Consumer Education Committee.

Will the Minister state when he received the relevant recommendations? Further, is he satisfied with the pace of progress in coming to decisions since the recommendations were received?

The committee in the Department got to work immediately the recommendations were received. As the Deputy knows, we have a new curriculum in the primary schools into which consumer education of the relevant standard can be fitted.

At secondary level, it may be more difficult to fit it into one of the subject areas, but that is our intention.

Would I be correct in believing that these recommendations were received by the Minister at least 18 months ago?

I do not think so. I had a letter from the Minister of State at the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy on 29 March in regard to this matter.

Would the Minister not agree that the recommendations were published approximately 18 months ago?

Not that I am aware of. At least, they were not brought to the attention of my Department for their educational content.

Does the Minister receive Government Information Services publications?

That is an irrelevant question. Before I call on Deputy P. Barry to read his Private Notice Question, I want to say that the remaining questions will be answered by written reply unless Deputies indicate that they wish them to remain on the Order Paper until after the Recess.

Questions Nos. 33 to 37, inclusive, postponed.

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