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TITHE AN OIREACHTAISAn Comhchoiste um Oideachas agus EolaíochtTUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2006agusCLÁR OIBRE 2007Feabhra 2007HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTASJoint Committee on Education and ScienceANNUAL REPORT 2006andWORK PROGRAMME 2007February 2007
TITHE AN OIREACHTAISAn Comhchoiste um Oideachas agus EolaíochtTUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2006agusCLÁR OIBRE 2007Feabhra 2007HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTASJoint Committee on Education and ScienceANNUAL REPORT 2006andWORK PROGRAMME 2007February 2007JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND SCIENCE ANNUAL REPORT 2006 AND WORK PROGRAMME 2007Table of Contents
1. Content and Format of ReportThis annual report covers the period from 01 January 2006 to 31 December 2006. It has been prepared pursuant to Standing Order 84 (3), (4), (5) and (6) (Dáil Éireann) and Standing Order 69 (3), (4), (5) and (6) (Seanad Éireann) which provide for the Joint Committee to- •undertake a review of its procedure and its role generally •prepare an annual work programme •lay minutes of its proceedings before both Houses •make an annual report to both Houses At its meeting, on the 8th February 2007, the Joint Committee agreed that all these items should be included in this annual report. 2. Functions and PowersThe Dáil Select Committee was established by Order of Dáil Éireann of 16 October 2002 to consider Bills and Estimates for Public Services in respect of the Department of Education and Science and such proposals contained in any motion concerning the approval by the Dáil of international agreements involving a charge on public funds. The Dáil Select Committee under the same Order was enjoined with a Select Committee of Seanad Éireann, established by Order of Seanad Éireann of 17 October 2002, to form the Joint Committee on Education and Science. The principal functions of the Joint Committee are to consider — •public affairs administered by the Department of Education and Science, including, in respect of Government policy, bodies under the aegis of that Department, •matters of policy for which the Minister for Education and Science is officially responsible, •related policy issues concerning bodies which are partly or wholly funded by the State or which are established or appointed by Members of the Government or by the Oireachtas, •statutory instruments made by the Minister for Finance, •such proposals for EU legislation and related policy issues as may be referred to it, •strategy statements laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Minister for Education and Science •annual reports and accounts, overall operational results, statements of strategy and corporate plans of bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Science or bodies which are partly or wholly funded by the State or which are established or appointed by Members of the Government or by the Oireachtas. The Orders of Reference of the Dáil Select Committee and the Joint Committee are set out at Appendix 1. 3. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Convenors and MembershipDeputy Michael Moynihan was elected as Chairman of the Joint Committee on 18 November 2004 and Deputy Jan O’Sullivan was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on the 14th November 2002. The Chairman of the Joint Committee is also Chairman of the Dáil Select Committee. Deputies Thomas McEllistrim and Damien English are the Convenors of the Committee whose function it is to ensure the availability and attendance of Members or their substitutes for meetings of the Committee and, in particular, to ensure Members’ availability for divisions. The Members of the Joint Committee are set out at Appendix 2 4. Meetings, Attendance and RecordingMeetings of the Joint Committee and Select Committee took place in the Committee rooms in Leinster House 2000. Meetings were in public unless otherwise ordered by the Committee. Televised coverage of public meetings of the Committee was broadcast live within the Leinster House complex and was available for subsequent public broadcasting by RTÉ and TV3. An Official Report (Parliamentary Debates) of the public meetings of the Committees is published and may be purchased from the Government Publications Sales Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Official Reports may also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas website www.oireachtas.ie Copies of other reports published by the Joint Committee may be obtained from the Clerk, Joint Committee on Education and Science, Kildare House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. A list of these reports is set out at paragraph 8. 5. Number and Duration of MeetingsThe Joint Committee met on 22 occasions in the period under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 30 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out in paragraph 6 below and at Appendix 3. The Dáil Select Committee met on 3 occasions in the period under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 3 hours. The date and subject matter of each meeting is set out in paragraph 6 below and at Appendix 4. Minutes of proceedings of the Joint Committee meetings in public session are attached at Appendix 5. 6. Work of the Committee6.1 Joint CommitteeOn the twenty two occasions the Joint Committee met, it considered the following matters: •Science and Maths Education at second level, in particular at Leaving Certificate level •Recommendations of the Ferns Report and the Church’s National Child Protection Policy with particular reference to the document ‘Our Children, Our Church’ •Discussion with the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disability •Educational Disadvantage and related issues •Child Protection issues arising from the recommendations contained in the Ferns Report •Report entitled ‘Who went to College in 2004? A National Survey of New Entrants to Higher Education’ •School Transport •Evaluation Reports (i) An Evaluation of Educational Provision for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and (ii) An Evaluation of Special Classes for Pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorders •Issues in Science Education with particular reference to the issue of laboratory technicians •Policy and planning for the provision of accommodation for schools and related matters •Union of Students in Ireland report entitled ‘Funding Fairness’ •Recruitment and retention of primary school principals •Current activities and future plans with regard to agricultural education provision in University College Dublin •The development of a qualifications framework for Educational and Vocational Training in Kosovo Scrutiny of Proposals for EU Legislation•COM (2005)705 - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2013) •COM (2006)42 - Proposal for a Council Regulation (EURATOM) laying down the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme of the EuropeanAtomic Energy Community and for dissemination of research results (2007-2011) •COM (2006) 236 - Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning •COM(2005) 625 - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning Matters referred by order of both Houses of the OireachtasNone. 6.2 Dáil Select CommitteeOn the three occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it considered the following matters: •Institutes of Technology Bill 2006 •2006 Revised Estimates for Public Service - Vote 26(Education and Science) •Supplementary Estimate - Vote 26(Education and Science) 7. Groups and Individuals attending before CommitteeIn the year under report, the Joint Committee met the following organisations, groups and individuals: •Minister for Education and Science, Ms Mary Hanafin •Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Ms Síle De Valera •Officials of the Department of Education and Science •Officials of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment •Members of the House of Commons Education & Skills Committee •Representatives of the Education Commission - Irish Bishops Conference, the Child Protection Office — Irish Bishops Conference and the Irish Bishops Conference •Conference of Religious of Ireland •National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disability •Barnardos •One in Four •Irish Universities Association •Higher Education Authority •Central Statistics Office (CSO) •Irish Science Teachers Association •Concerned Parents of East Meath •Union of Students of Ireland •Commission on School Accommodation •Irish Primary Principals Network •University College Dublin •Members of the Kosovan Education Committee 8. Reports8.1 Joint Committee ReportsDuring the period under report, the Joint Committee published the following reports: •Annual Report 2005 and Work Programme 2006 •Adult Literacy in Ireland (Fourth Report) •EU Scrutiny Report No. 4, COM (2004) 471. Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL creating the “YOUTH IN ACTION” programme for the period 2007-2013 and COM (2004) 474. Proposal for a Decision of the European parliament and of the Council establishing an integrated action programme in the field of lifelong learning •EU Scrutiny Report No. 5, COM (2005)705 - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and for the dissemination of research results (2007-2013) •EU Scrutiny Report No. 6, COM (2006)42 - Proposal for a Council Regulation (EURATOM) laying down the rules for the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in actions under the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community and for dissemination of research results (2007-2011) •EU Scrutiny Report No. 7 COM (2005)625 - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the production and development of statistics on education and lifelong learning and COM (2006)236 - Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning •Report on a visit by a delegation from the Joint Committee on Education and Science to two Schools providing Education for Children with Special Needs in Cork and Limerick. 20th March 2006. •Report on a visit by the Joint Committee on Education and Science to Special Educational Schools in Dublin. 14th March 2006. 9. TravelThe Joint Committee undertook the following travel in accordance with its Orders of Reference in connection with its work programme. (a) Purpose of travel:Fact-finding in the area of special education provision and education for children with learning disabilities in the Limerick/Cork region.
(b) Purpose of travel:Fact-finding in the area of special education provision and education for children with learning disabilities in the Dublin region.
10. Functions and PowersThe Joint Committee is currently satisfied with its present procedures and role. ____________________ Michael Moynihan, T.D., Chairman, 22nd February 2007. |
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