asked the Minister for Education if a white paper on education is being prepared in his Department; and, if so, if he will state the scope of the paper and when it will be published.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - White Paper on Education.
50.
A pre-legislative document is in course of preparation in my Department. Its scope and date of publication of the document have not yet been decided.
In this pre-legislative document will third-level education only be dealt with or will primary, post-primary and third-level be dealt with?
As I have said already, the scope of the document has not yet been decided.
Am I to take it that work has not started on this White Paper yet?
No, the Deputy should not draw that inference.
Would the Minister say what particular part of the whole spectrum has been covered up to now?
As I have said, the scope of the document has not yet been decided and I do not, therefore, feel at liberty to speak about the matter.
Will the Minister say that some part of the work has been done?
Yes.
Would the Minister indicate what he means by "pre-legislative" in this context?
There is a difficulty about the use of the words "White Paper" in this context. We do not have the term "White Paper" in this country. The document is a document dealing with the legislative changes necessary to bring into effect the Government's decision in respect of whatever decisions are necessary.
It is a significant point. In other words, this "White Paper" will, in fact, deal with legislation?
The document —we will not describe its colour—will deal with matters which will be subject to legislation at a later stage.