Vol. 481 No. 3
142 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 2 October 1997, if he will indicate whether there is an additional category of review to those outlined in that reply to which the review of the weight of school bags and the planning group on a national psychological service belong; and if he will give the information requested in relation to these and any other such reviews however they are described. [16023/97]
My reply to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 2 October, 1997 gave information on review groups, consultancies, etc., then in place or in operation. As regards the review group on the weight of school bags, while I announced the establishment of this review group in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 570 of 30 September, 1997, the group's first meeting is taking place today. A similar situation obtains in relation to the planning group for a national educational psychological service in that the first meeting of the group is, also, scheduled for today.
The membership of the review group on the weight of school bags consists of representatives of parents, teachers, medical professionals and the Department of Education and Science.
The planning group for a national educational psychological service is comprised of representatives of teachers' unions, parent groups, school management bodies, psychologists and the Departments of Education and Science, Health and Finance.
No costs have been established for either group to date.
