Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 21 Jun 1994

Vol. 444 No. 1

Written Answers. - Development Education Support Centre.

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

53 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason for the closure of the Development Education Support Centre at Limerick; if he will reconsider his decision as this is the only centre outside Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

A major review of the funding of Development Education in Ireland was carried out last autumn by the Department of Foreign Affairs as part of the expansion of Ireland's aid programme of Development Co-operation.

Among the recommendations of the Review Team was that the Development Education Support centre, (DESC) and the National Development Education Grants Committee should be abolished and a new National Committee for Development Education should be set up in their place. It has therefore been decided that DESC should cease functioning as of 30 June 1994.

Details of the Review Team's recommendations have been communicated to the main organisations involved in Development Education in Ireland and their response has been very positive. I am satisfied that this new committee, which will have a strong regional representation among its membership will have an important input into Development Education throughout Ireland.

While the Limerick office of DESC is to close, I would be very concerned that the momentum and resources built up in the field of Development Education in the Limerick region should not be lost. Officials in my Department have met with interested groups from the region and I understand that a proposal for a grant towards maintaining the resource centre will be submitted to the new committee once it has been established.