asked the Minister for Education the names and functions of the commissions, committees, inter-departmental committees, working parties and State-sponsored bodies established by her and abolished by her since taking office.
Written Answers. - State Bodies.
170.
The following are the details of the bodies as requested by the Deputy:
(1) Steering Committee for the examination of third level courses leading to awards by the National Council for Educational Awards and other bodies outside the universities.
Functions: To review the objectives, duration and throughput of courses leading to such awards, the employment potential of the courses and to identify any savings which could be achieved by adjusting where appropriate (i) the length and organisation of the courses and (ii) their distribution between institutions.
(2) Interdepartmental Committee on third level education.
Functions: To make recommendations on future policies, including the form of funding, for third level education.
(3) Working Group on Carysfort College.
Function: To examine the question of establishing a National College of Music and Dramatic Arts in Carysfort College. The group has submitted its report.
(4) Interdepartmental review of the means assessment criteria for eligibility under the higher education grant and related schemes.
Function: To examine the present criteria for assessment of eligibility on grounds of means under the higher education grants and related schemes, to identify any inadequacies in the means assessment system and to make recommendations for improvements. The group has submitted its report.
(5) Departmental Task Force Review of Admissions Procedures to third level education.
Function: To examine the question of admissions procedures to third level with a view to minimising difficulties for prospective students. The group has submitted its report.
(6) Primary Education Review Body.
Function: To review the primary sector of education and to report to the Government.
(7) Review Body on the Primary Curriculum.
Function: To analyse the aims and objectives of the primary curriculum; identify how effectively these are being achieved with particular reference to Irish, English and mathematics, to examine what structures could be adopted to ensure that objectives outlined could be evaluated as students progress through school and to make recommendations for the future. The review body will also pay specific attention to the alignment of the last two years at primary school with the post-primary curriculum.
(8) Working Party on the Elimination of Sexism and Sex-stereotyping in textbooks and teaching materials.
Function: To establish the level of sexism and sex-stereotyping in textbooks and teaching materials used in national schools, to make recommendations on the elimination of such content on a phased basis, taking due account of the need for restraint in public expenditure and to monitor progress in this area.
(9) Working Group on Environmental Awareness.
Function: To see how best schools can promote an appreciation of environmental matters, including awareness of the risk of pollution.
(10) Working Group on Child Abuse.
Function: To prepare guidelines for teachers in national schools for dealing with allegations or suspicions of child abuse.
(11) Gaisce, The President's Award.
Function:“Gaisce” is the nation's highest acknowledgement of the positive role which can be played by young people in their communities. A National Council has been established under the chairmanship of the Hon. Mr. Justice Liam Hamilton to operate and manage the programme.
(12) Inter-Departmental Committee on Disadvantaged Youth.
Function: To co-ordinate the out of school provision of services to young people most in need in the context of available national lottery funds.
(13) Working party to improve the public image of youth.
Function: To heighten and improve the image of youth work in the media and to initiate and monitor a series of activities to this end.
(14) Working Party to Develop a Common Basic Training Programme for Youth Leaders.
Function: To assess the basic training provision currently available in the youth sector and to draw up a common basic training programme.
(15) The Irish Coaching Bureau
Function:
—to develop and promote better standards of coaching;
—to provide training programmes for coaches;
—to provide an information service for coaches; to collect and assimilate information and technical data from home and overseas relating to coaching;
—to act as a reference point for coaches.
(16) Commercial Development of Sport
Function: A task force was established to draw up proposals for the development of tourism through the hosting in Ireland of major international sporting events and to consider the setting up of a structural relationship with Ireland's top sportspeople.
(17) The interim Curriculum and Examinations Board was reconstituted as the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
Function: Advising the Minister on all matters pertaining to school curricula.
(18) Project Team for National Sports Centre
The Project Team was established to organise the planning and development of the National Sports Centre. This committee lapsed when the Custom House Docks Development Authority assumed the role of development agent for the project in April 1988.
(19) Steering Committee on National Sports Centre
The steering committee was set up to supervise the Custom House Docks Development Authority in discharging its role as development agent for the Minister in the design and construction of the National Sports Centre.
(20) Recreational Development Committee
The Recreational Development Committee was appointed with the following terms of reference;
1. To identify the needs of recreational management in Ireland.
2. To establish a strategy to meet the perceived needs of recreational management, e.g. usage, programming, planning, development and evaluation of programmes.
3. To identify the specific requirements in management of the various existing facilities e.g. community centres, halls, etc.
4. To examine management systems in the various leisure and recreational environments in regard to their effective operation.
5. To develop an advisory and information service for recreational management.
6. To supervise the work of the recreational development officer appointed by the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (Ireland Region) with funding from the Department.
(21) Research Committee
The research committee set up with the following terms of reference:
1. To make recommendations to the council of Cospóir and the Minister of State on research policy.
2. To identify "priority areas" for research.
3. To review progress on research in general and on individual research projects on an annual basis.
4. Members of the research committee will act as special advisers to the research officer in relation to applications for funding that fall within their spheres or expertise.
5. The research officer shall administer sports research on a day-to-day basis, shall convene meetings of the research committee, shall invite individual members of the research committee to act as advisers on specific applications for funding.
(22) Advisory Group on Regional and Local Sports Centres
This working group was established with the following terms of reference:
1. To ensure the immediate implementation of the Government's decision regarding the commencement and completion of the centres.
2. To advise on plans submitted for the proposed centres.
3. To advise the Minister of State on all matters relating to the provision of the centres.
4. To advise on the long-term strategy (up to the year 2000) for the provision of sport and recreational facilities.
5. To make recommendations on planning co-ordination and on sports plan models which will ensure cost effectiveness in sport facility provision.
No groups have been abolished but it will be noted that certain groups have completed the tasks which were assigned to them.