The Green Party's views on education are extremely radical and we would argue that the present educational system does not serve the needs of the planet in that it encourages conformism, consumerism and exploitation. However, be that as it may, we do accept that the Green Paper, flawed as it is, is some effort to improve the many defects in the present system, and for that we can be thankful.
The Green Party's paper on education should be consulted by the Minister for Education, and I shall forward this to the Minister as part of the consultation process on his Green Paper. Unfortunately, many Members in the House have not taken the opportunity of reading this radical "Green" paper on education. I would recommed it to them; it might broaden their thinking on education to the benefit of future generations.
I think that everyone in the House would agree that the other Green Paper on Education is one of the most important policy documents issued in this area by Government for a number of years. A Green Paper, by defination, is a discussion document to be discussed not just by the Government, the Oireachtas or the various educational interest bodies — trade unions, Churches and so forth — it is, in my view, to be debated by the public at large — students, parents, teachers and everybody who is interested in education. Tremendous public interest has been shown in this paper and rightly so, but we must ask ourselves, has the Minister done everything to facilitate this debate. I would suggest that he has singularlay failed to provide for adequate public debate.
First, the Green Paper is available to anyone who is prepared to pay £10. I think we must start from here. I am not suggesting that the Green Paper should be distributed free to every persons, every household or even every teacher in the country because we must keep a balance between the need for maximum public debate on one hand and the needs of the Exchequer. It does not seem unreasonable to me that the Green Paper should be more readily available, free of charge, for those people sufficiently interested to seek it. For example, the paper should be available to individuals calling to Government publications. Other centres throughout the country could be sent a supply of copies to be distributed on the same basis.
The "so-called" public meetings which are taking place at certain urban areas are not being organised by the Department of Education and are not public; they are by invitation only and are attended by some union members and representatives of parent bodies. This is not adequate. The Department of Education should arrange meetings in both urban and rural areas to which all interested parties, students, parents, teachers, members of school management boards and so forth may come and question either the Minister or his representative after an outline of the proposals has been spelt out. It is extremely important that as much detailed information as possible be made available and discussed so that no-one need feel, after the consultation process is over, that they did not have adequate time or indeed the opportunity to participate in what is the most important development in education this century, barring the late Donough O'Malley's free, or as I would prefer to say, no direct charge, Education Bill of the seventies, though subsequent Governments have watered down this Bill to almost non-existence.
I hope that the Minister will be flexible and will not stick rigidly to the six months' time limit. I accept that some time limit must be imposed, but he should consider extending the time if there is public demand to do so.
Education is the very basis of our society. It is the making of future generations and it is the blueprint for the thinking which will shape the future of this world. Therefore, it is extremely important that a radical approach be adopted, and it is absolutely essential that consultation and communication with all interested groups be as open as possible, in as many locations around the country as possible. I would ask the Minister to please heed this very sincere request on behalf of very many parents, teachers and so forth in this country.
