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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 3

Written Answers. - Green Paper on Education.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

33 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education the number of submissions made to date on the Green Paper; if the deadline has now expired for receipt of such submission, the process it is intended to be used to examine the submission; and when the White Paper will be published.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

80 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Education the number of submissions made to date on the Green Paper; if the deadline has now expired for receipt of such submission, the process it is intended to be used to examine the submission; and when the White Paper will be published.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 80 together.

I have received around 900 submissions commenting on the Green Paper and on the education proposals in the Programme for a Partnership Government. I set a deadline of 7 April for these submissions when I took up my position as Minister for Education and I am grateful that so many people and organisations were able to send in their comments within that timeframe. I together with my officials am carefully examining the submissions.

The Programme for a Partnership Government makes a commitment that the process of consultation arising out of the Green Paper will be open and democratic. I am greatly heartened by the quality and extent of the debate that has been going on and particularly welcome the publishing of submissions by many of the main partners in the education system and the discussion that has been generated by this.

As an important part of the process leading to the White Paper I intend to hold a public seminar in Dublin on 19 May with the objective of providing participants with an opportunity to focus on key themes which have emerged in the consultation process. In addition, of course, officials of my Department will be meeting with representatives of the main interest groups to discuss in detail their submissions. My objective, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government, is to publish a White Paper by the end of 1993.

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