Vol. 529 No. 3
6 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress to establish an advisory committee on deaf education; the further progress, since the passing of the Education Act, 1998, to establish an educational disadvantage committee; the progress on the undertaking since the passing of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, to establish an education welfare board; and when the work of each group is likely to commence. [2757/01]
I am currently finalising details of the proposed terms of reference and composition of the advisory committee on the education of the hearing impaired. The intention is that this committee, which will be representative of the various interests involved in the education of the hearing impaired, will offer guidance to my Department on the future development of education services in this area. My Department will be contacting the relevant parties shortly with a view to agreeing arrangements for the commencement of the committee's work.
I am also currently finalising arrangements for the establishment of the educational disadvantage committee and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in relation to this matter in the coming days. The Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, makes provision for the establishment of a national educational welfare board to promote regular school attendance and ensure that appropriate education and training is provided for early school leavers. I have decided to establish the board initially on a non-statutory basis so that it can undertake the necessary planning and consultation work, prior to the formal commencement of the Act's provisions. The board will be put on a statutory footing once this work is completed. My Department has requested nominations for appointment to the board from the various education partners and relevant Government Departments and I hope to be in a position to make appointments shortly.
Does the Minister accept the criticisms in Sean Cromien's report on the operation of his Department – that there is a serious dearth of any kind of policy in the Department and that most officials are so caught up in the day to day operational matters that no time is given to developing policy in a range of matters? Does the Minister accept that there has been considerable slippage in his Department since he took office last year? These are three very important committees but currently there is no policy in the Department regarding education for the deaf, there is no serious policy regarding educational disadvantage and Deputy Upton has already discussed the education welfare board.
The Minister's answer, that he is currently finalising terms of reference and membership, is the same answer he gave me last June regarding the committee—
The Deputy's minute is up. She must observe Standing Orders.
When will the committees be established?
The Deputy has forgotten I set up the Cromien committee because of the difficulties I saw, so maybe my coming did something. Regarding disadvantage, I have now had funds distributed to schools and to children who are disadvantaged—
It is a scatter-gun approach. No committees have been set up.
It is not a scatter-gun approach. This is the first time there has been an objective, scientifically based provision of such funds through the work done by the Educational Research Centre.
The Minister is statutorily obliged to set up the committee.
Which one? The disadvantage committee?
Yes.
I have told the Deputy it will be set up shortly.
It is two years late.
I have only been in office one year. Let us not go back into that.
What about—
We cannot have a proper Question Time with interruptions.
I have answered the questions about the advisory committee on hearing impaired education. The intention is to have a committee which represents different interests.
Will the Minister give him a commitment, as I have asked him to do several times in written form, that at least 50% of the deaf education advisory committee membership will be drawn from the deaf community?
Yes, I will be anxious to have as high a proportion as possible, though I cannot say offhand now how many. I will want to see a strong representation of deaf or hearing impaired people and I will keep this in mind.
