Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 11 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 5

Written Answers. - Education Task Force.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

137 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has received the report of the Inner City Organisations Network (ICON) in respect of the establishment of an education task force; if he has had considerations made into the report and its findings; his views on the validity of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21410/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

The Inner City Organisations Network – ICON – is one of four networks operating within the Dublin Inner City Partnership.

Officials from my Department previously met representatives of the network to discuss the terms of reference for the proposed inter-agency education task force, resources and representation by my Department on such a task force. My officials have explained to the group that my Department does not have a specific budget to support the work of such a local task force, neither is it possible to facilitate direct Department representation.

My Department, however, directly supports the educational needs of the community served by ICON through funding for schools, provision of home-school-community liaison co-ordinators, Youthreach and VTOS provision, adult literacy programmes channelled through the City of Dublin VEC, adult and community education and youth services.

In addition, the Dublin Inner City Partnership is supported in the following ways. A representative of my Department's inspectorate has been assigned to its education and training sub-committee. This representative supports the planning and development of measures to tackle educational disadvantage in the partnership area. In addition, each partnership has the services of an education co-ordinator funded by my Department. It is open to the group to seek the advice of the co-ordinator with a view to the inclusion of proposals within the overall partnership plan being finalised.

A nominee from my inspectorate acts as Department co-ordinator for the Dublin North-East inner city integrated services process which is part of the ICON area. The integrated services process is supporting a more focused and co-ordinated response by statutory agencies to the needs of the local community.