Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 April 2004
85 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he was asked by the Fianna Fáil Party to supply briefing material for local election candidates; if so his response to same; if material was provided; the form in which it was presented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12383/04]
View answerI am requested to include the Fianna Fáil press and research office in the dissemination of all publicly available information from my Department. I have no direct role as a Minister in the work of the Fianna Fáil press and research office. The Deputy will be aware that a parliamentary allowance is provided to political parties to employ staff to assist in the research and dissemination of information for their parties. As a Minister I do not cease to be a member of my party and I am, therefore, in continual contact with my parliamentary colleagues and they with me, both directly and through the press and research office employed to assist them.
86 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will elaborate on the content of information packs prepared by his Department for Fianna Fáil local election candidates, county by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12413/04]
View answerThe packs referred to by the Deputy contained the following items of information: a list of the building projects over the past five years for the relevant county; a document regarding special needs education; a document regarding key facts about education; and a briefing document on education issues which included, among other things, references to the school building programme, school planning, the standardised school year, special needs allocations, the National Council for Special Education, the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill and the €42 million package for third level students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The information contained in the packs was in the public domain and available to the general public.
