Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 31 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 4

Written Answers. - Report of the National Education Convention.

Robert Molloy

Question:

21 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Education the level of financial commitment she has secured to provide the additional resources required to bring about the changes envisaged in the report of the National Education Convention.

Michael McDowell

Question:

49 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Education if she intends to act immediately on specific problems identified by the report of the National Education Convention or wait until the White Paper on Education is produced.

Mary Harney

Question:

50 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Education when she intends to present an action plan and an outline of the budgetary changes required for implementation of the changes recommended in the Green Paper on Education and the National Education Convention.

Máirín Quill

Question:

60 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Education the discussions, if any, her Department has had with other Government Departments to facilitate co-ordinated planning as described in the report of the National Education Convention.

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I intend to take Questions Nos. 21, 49, 50 and 60 together.

The task facing me now is to give the fullest consideration to all aspects of the report on the National Education Convention including financial implications as I formulate policy proposals for the White Paper.

I have shown in my term of office that there are many reforms that cannot wait for the publication of White Papers. Example of these include the on-going reform of the structure of the second-level senior cycle and the agreement with second-level schools on selection procedures. I have also recently announced major improvements in relation to third-level student grants arising from the recommendations of an Advisory Committee which I established in April 1993. It is my intention to take similar action with regard to other issues should the need arise before the publication of the White Paper.

The Department of Education liaises closely with all concerned Government Departments in the development of education initiatives. I will keep under review, particularly in the process of preparing the White Paper, areas where improvement may be necessary to the policy formulation process.