Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2004
135 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science his further plans following the Your Education System meetings, which he held throughout the year; if he will make a report on these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13131/04]
View answerFollowing the series of 17 public meetings held throughout February and March a number of organisations, namely, the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, the National Parents' Council — Primary, the Local Authorities Members' Association, the Irish Vocational Education Association and the Joint Managerial Body, have hosted consultation sessions for their members. I hope that a number of other organisations will host similar sessions.
Preparations are being made to hold a survey on people's attitudes to education, which will supply statistical data to complement the anecdotal data gathered through the meetings and from the website. A number of meetings focused on specific topics, including special education and disadvantage, will be held. This will allow these topics to be discussed in more depth than is possible in an open public forum. I also intend to hold a number of meetings for young people of school-going age to ensure that their perspective is brought into the discussion.
The secretariat for the process has produced reports on each of the events that has taken place. These can be accessed on www.youreducation.ie. Reports of other events will be produced and posted on the website as these take place. When the consultation process finishes at the end of this year, the secretariat will produce a final report, drawing together all of the elements that formed part of the discussion during the year.
