Vol. 437 No. 6
551 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education her views on the suggestion made by the European Commission in its White Paper, Growth, Competitiveness and Employment, to the effect that 1995 might be entitled The European Year of Education.
552 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education her views on the proposal contained in the White Paper of the Commission of the European Communities to the effect that a European distance learning service and a common European computers in schools programme should be operated on a European rather than a national basis; and if Ireland will be supporting this proposal.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together.
The issues to which the Deputy refers are ones which will be considered at EU level by the relevant Committees and by the Council of Education Ministers, as appropriate. The education aspect of the White Paper on "Growth, Competitiveness and Employment" is due to be considered at an informal meeting of Education Ministers at the end of February.
The promotion of Information and Communication Technologies and Open and Distance Education and Learning is one of the proposed actions in the recent Commission's "Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Community Action Programme `Socrates' " which is intended to contribute to the development of quality education and training. This proposal is at present under consideration by the Education Committee of the Council of the European Union.
