Vol. 419 No. 7
3 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education the measures he proposes to take to implement the recommendations on higher education and regional development contained in the Memorandum on Higher Education in the European Community, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The memorandum referred to by the Deputy is a Commission document which was presented to the Ministers for Education meeting in Council last November. Its purpose is to stimulate wide-ranging debate during 1992 within member states and at Community level. It does not attempt to lay down policy for the member states.
The forthcoming Green Paper on Education will contain a major section on the development of higher education. The major themes covered in the Commission's memorandum will be dealt with. The wide-ranging debate which will follow publication of the Green Paper will, inter alia, provide a basis for a formal response to the Commission.
In addition, I have arranged with the Higher Education Authority to have the memorandum debated at a series of four seminars in September. One of these will deal with higher education and regional development. Thereafter, the Irish response to the memorandum will be furnished in the form of a report to the Commission. Similar action is being taken in other member states. The Commission will prepare a synthesis report to a future education council. At that point the question of implementing specific recommendations will arise.
How many meetings has the Minister had with his European counterparts, the European Ministers for Education? When will the next meeting be held and has he established the Educational Secratariat in Brussels, as requested in our debate on the European Social Fund motion? Last but not least, does he not realise that the core philosophy contained in this document is about equal opportunity, access to all forms of education and that the move to withdraw 27,000 European Social Fund grants will have a disastrous effect in relation to achieving that ideal?
I have had one formal meeting with my counterparts in the European Community at an informal Council of Education Ministers. However, there are almost daily contacts between my officials and officials of the other member states' Departments of Education.
In regard to the Deputy's second question about the appointment of a person to the Education Secretariat in Brussels, my Department have selected an appropriate person and are at present clearing the necessary technicalities with the Department of Finance. Finally, in regard to the European Social Fund, I have made it clear that I am looking at the overall question of the level of higher education grants. The European Structural Fund means-testing decision will form part of that decision, about which I will have something to say, hopefully within the next few weeks.
