Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 8 Nov 1995

Vol. 457 No. 8

Written Answers. - Education Funding.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

61 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the funding which is available to meet the strategy for education outlined in the White Paper, Charting our Education Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16373/95]

Seamus Brennan

Ceist:

68 Mr. S. Brennan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a list of primary school building projects initiated in each county between January and September 1995. [16090/95]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

I propose to take Question Nos. 61 and 83 together.

The final Government decision on the funding of initiatives in the White Paper, Charting Our Education Future, is as set out in my foreword to the White Paper. The implementation strategy for the White Paper reform programme involves the prioritisation of reform measures within the context of available resources and within the wider context of the Government's social and economic programme. As I pointed out in my reply to Deputy Martin on 28 September 1995, I do not intend to publish a cost framework or series of cost projections for the White Paper. Any such exercise would not be very meaningful, and would not contribute to the implementation of the White Paper.

As I have indicated previously, it is important to point out that many key changes in the White Paper will not involve additional resources. Rather, they involve the establishment of rights, responsibilities, roles and functions to create a modern framework for the management of the educational system. In this regard, I am giving priority attention to the tabling and enactment of legislation.

In his reply to Deputy Michael McDowell on 19 October 1995, my colleague the Minister for Finance, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, confirmed that he participated in the process of consideration by the Government of the White Paper and that this process included consideration of the cost implications of the White Paper. The Minister correctly pointed out that proposals to implement specific aspects of the White Paper reform programme must be accompanied by detailed costings as and when they come before Government for approval. Costing exercises for proposals that might have resource implications in the future are contingent on a range of variable factors, such as the timescale within which proposals are implemented, the outcome of discussions/negotiations with concerned interests and expert advice on the detailed implementation strategies. Also, as the Minister for Finance has pointed out, the cost of education measures are determined to a large extent by pay costs, which in turn reflect numbers employed in the sector and pay rates at any given time. In this context he indicated that it would be neither useful nor appropriate to comment on what the cost elements might be into the future. I agree.