Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Vol. 535 No. 1

Written Answers - EU Summits.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

645 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in respect of commitments made at the Lisbon summit 2000 concerning economic reform in order to make the European Union the most competitive economic area by 2010, he will list the number of measures that have to be undertaken by his Department; the stage at which these measures are at; the title and brief description of each measure; when it is expected to have the measure taken or implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11827/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

At the Lisbon summit on 23 and 24 March 2000 the European Heads of State and Government set out a number of significant benchmarks, inter alia, in the field of education and training. The prominence given to education and training is a clear and welcome acknowledgement by the Heads of State and Government of the fundamental role which education and training play in the development of a competitive, successful Europe.

Following on the European Council's request to the education council to look at the "concrete future objectives of education systems" work is ongoing at European level and the Education Council made a first report to the spring European Council in Stockholm in March of this year.

The more detailed information requested by the Deputy in relation to the objectives set at the Lisbon Summit of relevance to my Department will be forwarded directly to him.

Question No. 646 answered with Question No. 640.

Question No. 647 answered with Question No. 639.

Question No. 648 answered with Question No. 595.