Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 2

Written Answers. - Education White Paper.

Michael McDowell

Question:

19 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance the examination or study, if any, he has carried out in to the implications for the Exchequer of the cost of implementing the recently published White Paper on Education; and if he will make the results of such a study or examination public in the context of controlling public expenditure in 1996. [2631/96]

Helen Keogh

Question:

53 Ms Keogh asked the Minister for Finance the examination or study, if any, he has carried out in to the implications for the Exchequer of the cost of implementing the recently published White Paper on Education; and if he will make the results of such a study or examination public in the context of controlling public expenditure in 1996. [2632/96]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 53 together.

As the Deputy will be aware the White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future, was published by the Minister for Education following consideration and approval by the Government. In accordance with normal procedures, my Department prepared observations on the White Paper including its cost aspects, in so far as these could be assessed.

However, as I have already stated in reply to previous questions on this matter, these costings were, of necessity very tentative. The decision taken by the Government in regard to funding is clearly set out by the Minister for Education in her foreword to the White Paper — essentially that the amount of funding which can be made available in any year will be a matter for the Government to determine in the context of its budgetary position.

There are two principal reasons why the cost or proposals in the White Paper are tentative. First, as already indicated by myself and the Minister for Education in reply to previous questions, the cost of implementing the White Paper is contingent on a number of factors including the time scale in which proposals contained in the White Paper are to be introduced. All the initiatives in the White Paper will have to be considered by the Government within the framework of the budgetary parameters and the Maastricht Treaty convergence conditions. Second, because of the various imponderables involved in the implementation of initiatives outlined in the White Paper, including aspects which may involve negotiations with concerned interests, it would be difficult if not impossible to say with any certainty what the cost of implementing the White Paper will be. Accordingly publication of the tentative costings carried out by my Department as part of its function of providing observations for the Government's consideration of the White Paper would not be appropriate.

However, in accordance with normal practice my colleague the Minister for Education will provide costings as appropriate on proposals to complement specific aspects of the White Paper as and when they are submitted to Government for approval.