Helen Keogh
Question:3 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Education when she will present the White Paper on Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1050/94]
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - White Paper on Education.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:34 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education the current timetable for the publication of the White Paper and Education Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1040/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 34 together. I am at present finalising a draft White Paper for submission to Government and I am taking account of the results of the comprehensive consultation process which has taken place. My intention is to publish the White Paper before the end of the year. I hope to bring forward appropriate legislation on foot of the White Paper proposals during 1995.
The publication of the White Paper on education is a movable feast as yesterday November was given as the publication date. The delay is very disappointing for anybody involved in education as the Green Paper was published in June 1992. What work has been done on the legislative framework of the education Act? When one considers the difficulties the Minister is experiencing with the Act based on the 1937 Constitution, one realises how urgent this is. It is very disappointing to hear the Minister say the publication will be towards the end of the year. Will she be more specific?
The White Paper is a very important document which will outline a framework for the development of education into the next century. It will be the most comprehensive education legislation to be put on the Statute Book since the British established the national school system at the end of the last century.
There has been an intense and innovative consultation process. A convention on education was held in Dublin Castle in October 1993 and there was a report to the convention in January 1994. It emerged at Dublin Castle that we needed to have further consultation and discussion on the proposed regional education councils. I was invited by the partners to the convention on education in Dublin Castle to publish a position paper, I did so on the regional education councils in March 1994 and had round table discussions under Professor Coolahan who reconvened that group in Dublin Castle in June 1994.
The other area of concern and of great differences in opinion that emerged in Dublin Castle was the future of the governance of schools. In July 1994 I responded to concerns expressed in Dublin Castle and subsequently hosted a two day meeting in September 1994. I will not apologise for the consultative process because I know it has resulted in a substantive debate on complex issues and now we are facing the prospect of real change.
What we are doing in Ireland is of considerable interest to our partners, and the OECD is specifically monitoring this process where the partners in education are being consulted, heard and responded to before the "tablets of stone" are finished. I make no apology for this. I would not quibble over the difference between November and December, I am aiming for the end of the year.
The Deputy may be aware that discussions have been ongoing since the two day meeting on the governance of schools — interestingly they are not being carried on behind the doors of the Department of Education as we have finally established a new mechanism of consultation where the partners involved in one sector, parents, teachers, owners and managers consult each other to achieve an agreed model that would be flexible enough to respond to the three pillars on which I asked that the governance would be based, plurality, partnership and accountability. The discussion is not quite over and I would prefer to facilitate it rather than saying I have committed myself to 30 November and that I cannot wait another month. It has been a century since such legislation was put on the Statute Book.
It is envisaged that some legislation will be ready to go on the Statute Book six months after the publication of the White Paper.
As Deputies may observe the time available for dealing with priority questions is well nigh exhausted and there are two remaining questions to be disposed of. Brevity must be the keynote.
Obviously, the admonition on brevity should be addressed to the Minister in this instance. I commend the Minister on the consultative process and far be it from me——
A brief, succinct, relevant question please, Deputy.
Why will the Minister not give a commitment on the date of the White Paper since she already gave a commitment regarding the end of June, then November and now she is saying it will be December. It will be the next century before we have another Act.
The White Paper will be published when I am satisfied that we have completed any multilateral discussions we were to have. As I said already — and I am trying to keep my answers short — some discussions are continuing and I will keep the House informed.