Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Mar 1990

Vol. 396 No. 6

Written Answers. - Education on AIDS.

Monica Barnes

Question:

248 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Education if she will lay before Dáil Éireann the drafts of her proposals for education relating to AIDS as originally submitted and as put into operation on a pilot basis; and if, in future, she will consider holding, as a matter of normal procedure, public hearings at which all submissions and observations on educational proposals such as this might take place, including right of access by public representatives and rights of cross-examination by all the participants.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

It has not been the practice to place educational materials which are in the course of development before Dáil Éireann and I do not propose to depart from that practice. The pilot use of the draft educational resource materials on AIDS in 20 post-primary schools was part of the process of development of the materials. As I indicated in my reply on 31 January 1990, the revision of the materials, as a result of the pilot use and the comments received from the various educational bodies consulted, is proceeding and will be completed in the near future. When the revised package is approved by me in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Health, it will be available generally.

I am satisfied that, in general, educational proposals are subject to widespread consultation and public debate which provide the opportunity for all interested parties to express their views.