Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 3

Written Answers. - EC Education Programmes.

Máirín Quill

Question:

175 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education the plans, if any, she has to ensure that Irish primary education which was recently shown by an OECD report to be the most under-funded in Europe, benefits from European funding; the way in which the new article 126 of the Maastricht Treaty, which creates a European imperative to support and supplement national education policy, will impact on Irish primary education; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

As far as existing Community education programmes are concerned it is the policy of the Department of Education to facilitate the participation of the primary education sector in these programmes where the terms of the Council decision adopting the programme so allows. It will maintain that policy in relation to any new programmes that may be developed under Article 126 of the draft Maastricht Treaty as soon as it is ratified.

In relation to support for primary education from EC Structural Funds, the Deputy will be aware that a National Development Plan is currently being prepared for the utilisation of the next round of Structural Funds. Proposals for developments in the education sector will form an integral part of that plan. It would be premature for me to discuss specific proposals for interventions in the education sector.

The Programme for Government identifies priorities in the field of education to be addressed during the period of the programme. These key areas are matters of educational policy and are not contingent on the strategies to be adopted in the National Development Plan to ensure the long-term impact of the structural funds in the development of infrastructural and support services.