asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the results obtained by Ireland from, and the Irish participation in, the EC's DELTA research programme on the applicators of information technology in education; and if he will outline the main thrust of the DELTA programme.
Written Answers. - EC DELTA Programme
62.
The programme in question arises from the Framework Programme for Community Activities in the field of Research and Technological Development 1987-1991, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on 28 September, 1987.
DELTA, in common with other specific programmes within the Framework Programme, has yet to be considered by the Council. The Commission's proposals, however, envisage a pilot phase programme for an 18 month period involving an expenditure of 20 MECU. The first part of the Deputy's question, does therefore not arise at this stage.
In the words of a letter dated I September 1987 from the Commission to the Council,
"The aim of the DELTA programme is to harmonize the development of multi-media teaching equipment and systems by the industry and universities in the Community, and thus ensure that the Community's teaching aids facilities and systems are competitive — if not to the forefront — at international level. The programme is based on successive scenarios covering the next decade and representing the development of the information and communications technologies on which DELTA is based."
DELTA is being developed in the context of the other information technology programmes, (i.e. ESPRIT and RACE) and in parallel with COMETT, the Community education programme.