Vol. 450 No. 4
5 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5237/95]
8 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5240/95]
11 Mr. Kirk asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5238/95]
18 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5243/95]
24 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5244/95]
33 Mr. Davern asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5241/95]
39 Mr. Wallace asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5239/95]
40 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5246/95]
50 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5245/95]
75 Dr. Moffatt asked the Minister for Education if she will agree to the appointment of an official from her Department as a permanent representative in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests within the European community. [5242/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 8, 11, 18, 24, 33, 39, 40, 50 and 75 together.
I presume that the intention is to ask me if I intend to second an official from my Department to the Department of Foreign Affairs, for the purpose of taking up a post in the Irish permanent representation to the European Union in Brussels.
As the Deputies will be aware, Ireland will assume the Presidency of the European Union for the second half of 1996. I am giving serious consideration to seconding an official from my Department to the permanent representation in Brussels as part of the programme for strengthening the resources of the representation for the Presidency. I expect to take a decision in that regard within the next three months.
I imagine the Deputies are also raising the more general question of the assignment on a permanent basis of a departmental official to the representation in Brussels.
To date, I am satisfied that the arrangement in my Department for managing European Union affairs have been satisfactory. My Department has devoted substantial resources in Dublin to dealing with European Union affairs. Two sections within my Department have direct and immediate responsibility for relations with Europe. Each is headed by an officer at principal level. Both sections are intimately familiar with European affairs. Accordingly, I consider that I am well advised on the most effective strategies for Ireland's participation in the European Union. Officers travel to Brussels regularly to participate in and influence discussions and decision making of importance to education. In addition, officials in the permanent representation already work closely with my Department in advancing this country's educational interests in the European Union.
I take it the answer is "no"——
Listen.
——within the context of the permanent assignment of a departmental official to Brussels? I take it the Minister is adequately advised? Would the Minister agree that the permanent assignment of an official of her Department to Brussels would ensure greater input from the Irish side into the formulation of European education policy as, post-Maastricht, that is becoming even more part of the Commission's operations? Given that in excess of £800 million will be allocated to our education system from the ESF and European Regional Development Fund funds it would be justified. Given the plethora of programmes such as Socrates and Leonardo, would the Minister agree there is a clear need to have such an official based permanently in Brussels to oversee Irish educational interests, be in a position to pre-empt and source the various layers of funding, track the various policy developments and so on within the Commission?
I have not said that I am not sending anyone. In my reply I indicated we are giving serious consideration to seconding an official from my Department for the duration of our Presidency, in the second half of 1996. We shall be making a decision on that matter within the next three months. I will inform the Deputy of that decision if he does not table a separate question.
I might point out to the House that Ireland, even without permanent representation in Brussels, has been very successful in obtaining European funds and that an amount of almost £1,500 million has been secured for education, to be monitored here with regard to its investment. Furthermore, I might point out that 56 per cent of the European Social Fund is being directed to education and 83 per cent of the European Regional Development Fund is similarly allocated to us, has been earmarked and will be supervised and expended during my period in office.
There is a cost factor involved in assigning an official permanently to Brussels. The estimate I have been given is that it would amount to £100,000 per annum and would have to be met within my Department's administrative budget. While I do perceive a purpose in assigning an official for the duration of our Presidency, I must carefully consider whether we make that appointment permanent, always being mindful that the various sections of my Department have been very successful in sourcing funding and, second, that it would involve a cost of £100,000. I owe it to this House, and the education sector, to ascertain if we should make that kind of investment, given the success of our relationship with Brussels, maintained in close liaison with our permanent representative there.
Many schools and vocational education committees are endeavouring to establish links with European schools, under various European Commission education programmes. Would the Minister agree that not only would a permanent departmental official assigned there have a role to play in representing Irish educational interests, in terms of making an input into the formulation of European education policy but could also play a very active role in assisting our schools, and the various education committees, avail of the various schemes, develop links and secure funding? While acknowledging our success in securing funds in the past — by all Ministers in successive Governments — is the Government in favour of assigning an official permanently to Brussels? I take it the answer is "no"— and it would be better if that were said. The relevant cost, £100,000, would be the equivalent of the alleged cost of refurbishing the Minister's office.
I welcome links being established between the Irish educational system and our schools. Perhaps the Deputy is not aware of how much activity takes place in Marlborough Street, but there is an enormous amount of communication taking place under various programmes. Funding allocated has to be administered here and in my Department there is an international section and an ESF one. I told the Deputy that I do not intend to second an official within the next three months but rather that we are considering the secondment of somebody for the duration of our Presidency.
I take this opportunity to congratulate all officials in my Department who secured European Union funding. I cannot dismiss the cost factor involved in seconding an official to Brussels. However, it is not the cost factor only, we must remember we are also talking about administrative staff, the work to be undertaken and the relationship between the permanent representation in Brussels, available to all Government Departments, which has been very successful and has secured funding of some £1,500 million. I want to ensure there are officials here monitoring the spending of those funds in close liaison with the different sections of the European Commission. I am considering such secondment and will inform the Deputy of the outcome of my deliberations.
Will the Minister confirm that a former Minister for Education, my colleague, Deputy Davern, made a decision to assign a departmental official permanently to Brussels? Has there been a review of that decision in the Department under the Minister's stewardship?
There was an application for such in 1992, when the Department of Finance refused the permanent assignment of a principal officer. While I have much information about the history, the answer is that that application was refused early in 1992. I will be taking a decision with regard to the latter half of 1996.
Is the Minister's the only Government Department without such permanent representation at the European Union?
I do not have that information but, if the Deputy seeks it, of course I will convey it to him.
