asked the Minister for Education the plans he has for legislation to implement, in part or in whole, the proposals contained in the Government Green Paper, Partners in Education, having regard to the recent submissions and discussions with interested parties.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Education Green Paper.
23.
The many views and comments contained in the large number of submissions received and made at meetings in regard to the Green Paper Partners in Education are at present under detailed consideration. When this consideration has been completed, in the near future, I will decide on the next steps to be taken. I would also refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 19 from Deputy Mac Giolla.
The Minister referred to Question No. 19, which is part and parcel of the total package known as the Green Paper, whatever kind of package educational interests deem that to be. Has the Minister taken into account the very serious views expressed by the City of Dublin VEC in relation to the proposals put forward by certain vested interests within the colleges, certainly within the Dublin Institute of Technology? Is the Minister aware that the proposals and views in relation to a totally independent DIT put forward by some interested groups have not been sufficiently thought through as to the future status, terms of reference and the type and quality of education in these colleges? I put it to the Minister that the City of Dublin VEC are extremely concerned at what they regard as misrepresentation of the facts?
I do not want to go into details in regard to this, but the Deputy will be aware that on several occasions the Minister has expressed openness on all views with regard to the Green Paper. These matters are being considered in detail and I am quite sure some of the views expressed by the Deputy have been referred to in submissions to the Minister.
Have the Department even now considered the possibility, probability or feasibility of greater freedom of action for these colleges without total independence, or have the Department come down in favour of any specific proposals or conclusions? My information is, and I am sure Deputy Mac Giolla agrees with me, that it is not understood by the City of Dublin VEC that their last visit to the Department was to be the ultimate part of the process of discussion and consultation in relation to the DIT. During the course of that discussion my information is that very important aspects in regard to future needs in third level education in the Dublin region and, indeed nationally, in terms of developments in Britain and elsewhere, were considered still to be open ended.
The purpose of a Green Paper is to invite discussion with regard to proposals. This Green Paper was published last November. Submissions were invited before 28 February last. Ninety submissions have been received to date and others are still coming in. Detailed discussions with the major interested groups on their submissions commenced towards the end of March and representatives of 29 organisations have been interviewed. These meetings were completed recently. The next step is to commence preparations and memoranda in draft for the Government — heads of Bills which will provide for the establishment of the DIT and each RTC as an independent self-governing institution.
I would remind the Minister that a commitment was given to the City of Dublin VEC that a further submission from them in relation to the DIT would be very fully considered. The future development of DIT, as outlined, as put by the City of Dublin VEC, was referred to in terms of "half way house" and it was put to the VEC that a fuller response was required. In view of that it appeared quite clear to the VEC that this fuller response would be considered fully before any proposals would be put to the Cabinet.
To date 90 submissions have been received and more are coming in. The Deputy can take it that each submission will be fully investigated prior to any decision being taken. The fact that meetings have been completed does not mean that submissions are still not coming in.
In line with local government reform and that package generally envisaged by the Government, based mainly on the county system, would the Department agree that another local government structure not running in tandem with this would be far from desirable?
That is a matter of specific detail which can be teased out when the Bill comes before the Dáil.
In relation to what the Green Paper proposes, I put it to the Minister that although many interests regard the purpose and the intent of the Green Paper as desirable in some respects, it is also the view that there is a serious mis-match of purpose and intent on the one hand and the proposed practical implementation on the other?
That is why the Green Paper was published. The Deputy can take it that all these matters will be considered in detail.
Arising from the Minister's statement in Wexford recently can we take it that the Minister has decided to back away from the liquidation—
That is argument.