Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 June 2010
367 Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when the commission on school accommodation was established; the names of the members of the commission; the commission’s terms of reference; the number of times it has met; the location at which it meets; if the commission has issued an interim report; when the final report will be delivered and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24688/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is assumed that the Deputy is referring to the review of the procedures for the establishment of new primary schools currently being undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation. This review was initiated by my predecessor in September 2008. A Technical Working Group, under the direction of the Chairman of the Commission, was established by the Commission to undertake the detailed work on the review and to report back to the Commission.
The terms of reference for the Technical Working Group are as follows:
Invite submissions from the public and interested parties
Consider the submissions both written and oral
Conduct a detailed analysis of all the issues
Examine the Reports of the New Schools Advisory Committee (NSAC) and the issues raised
Consider international best practice in this area
Report to the Steering Group of the Commission on their analysis and findings
Make detailed recommendations for revised arrangements for new schools.
The Technical Working Group has met on eight occasions, which included an initial joint meeting with the Commission Steering Group. It also had a meeting with the original NSAC members, where the issues raised in the NSAC annual reports were explored in greater detail. These meetings were all convened in the Department's offices in Marlborough Street. The Technical Working Group is due to report to the Commission in the near future.
I would hope that the Commission will be in a position to report to me soon after receipt and consideration of the Technical Working Group's report. I will then consider the policy matters and any necessary arrangements and revised procedures that will need to be put in place in regard to the recognition process for new primary schools. For the information of the Deputy, details of the membership of the Technical Working Group and of the overall Commission Steering Group are contained in the following tables:
|
Representative |
Body/Association |
|
Monsignor James Cassin |
Episcopal Commission for Education |
|
Sean Ashe, CEO |
Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) |
|
Jacinta Stewart, CEO |
IVEA |
|
Cllr Brendan Griffin |
IVEA |
|
Ciaran Flynn, |
ACCS |
|
Andy Flaherty |
ACCS |
|
Dr John Harris |
Protestant Managers/Governors (Second Level) |
|
Aine Lynch, CEO |
National Parents Council –Primary |
|
Carole Trodden |
National Parents Council –Post Primary |
|
Noel Merrick |
JMB/AMCSS |
|
Breda Corr (wef 24/07/2009) (formerly Antoinette Buggle who has retired) |
General Secretary, National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE) |
|
Caoimhín Ó hEaghra |
An Foras Pátrúnachta |
|
Blathnaid Ni Ghreachain |
Gaelscoileanna Teo |
|
Sr. Canice Hanrahan |
Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI) |
|
Sr Eithne Woulfe |
Conference of Religious of Ireland (CORI) |
|
Sheila Nunan |
INTO |
|
Pat Hurley |
ASTI |
|
Iman Yahya Al-Huessein |
Islamic Foundation of Ireland |
|
Paul Rowe, CEO |
Educate Together |
|
Don Ryan |
TUI |
|
Declan Glynn, |
TUI |
|
Eileen Flynn |
Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) |
|
Canon John McCullagh |
Church of Ireland Board of Education |
|
Frank Murray |
Executive Chairperson |
|
Department of Education & Skills (DES) Officials |
|
|
Department of Finance Officials |
|
Representative |
Body/Association |
|
Professor Tom Collins |
Education Department, NUI, Maynooth |
|
Monsignor Dan O’Connor, Dublin |
CPSMA |
|
Donal O’Conaill |
An Foras Pátrúnachta |
|
Peter Archer |
Educational Research Centre, St Patrick’s College, |
|
Ms Eileen Jackson |
Principal |
|
Mary Carney, AP |
DES, Regional Office, Naas |
|
Pat O’Connor. CEO |
County Dublin VEC |
|
Deirdre O’Donoghue |
Educate Together |
|
Denis Bohan |
Retired President of INTO |
|
Niall Cussen |
Department of the Environment |
|
Frank Wyse |
Former Assistant Secretary, DES (to end February 2010) |
|
Sean Ó Foghlú |
Assistant Secretary, DES (since March 2010) |
|
Frank Murray |
Executive Chairperson |
|
DES Officials |
Secretariat |
