Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 2007 > Committee on Education and Science > Annual Report of the Joint Committee on Education and Science, 2007

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Oideachas agus Eolaíocht

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2007

Aibréan 2007

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Education and Science

ANNUAL REPORT 2007

April 2007

TITHE AN OIREACHTAIS

An Comhchoiste um Oideachas agus Eolaíocht

TUARASCÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2007

Aibréan 2007

HOUSES OF THE OIREACHTAS

Joint Committee on Education and Science

ANNUAL REPORT 2007

April 2007

JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND SCIENCE ANNUAL REPORT 2007

Table of Contents

1. Content and Format of Report

This annual report covers the period from 01 January 2007 to 01 May 2007. 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

Following circulation of the report, the members of the Joint Committee agreed that all these items should be included in this annual report.

2. Functions and Powers

The 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 Membership

Deputy 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 14^th 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.

Deputy Beverley Flynn was appointed to the Committee in substitution for Deputy Joe Behan on 29^th October 2007.

The Members of the Joint Committee are set out at Appendix 2.

4. Meetings, Attendance and Recording

Meetings 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 Meetings

The Joint Committee met on 7 occasions in the period under report. The number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 7 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 2 occasions in the period under report and the number of hours discussion involved in these meetings was in excess of 2 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 Committee

6.1 Joint Committee

On the seven occasions the Joint Committee met in public session, it considered the following matters:

•Early intervention for children with autism. Discussion with representatives of Parent and Professionals & Autism Northern Ireland (PAPA).

•HIV/AIDS- Sexual Health Education. Discussion with Mr. David Mac Donald.

•Provision of supports for children in a multi-ethnic/multi cultural society, with particular regard to children whose first language is other than English and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) reports on Intercultural education. Discussion with representatives from the Department of Education and Science and the NCCA.

•ICT in the classroom. Discussion with representatives of ICT Ireland.

•Report entitled ‘A Place for Children Tallaght West’. Discussion with representatives of the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI).

Scrutiny of Proposals for EU Legislation

No proposals were scrutinised in the period under Report.

Matters referred by order of both Houses of the Oireachtas

None.

6.2 Dáil Select Committee

On the two occasions the Dáil Select Committee met, it considered the following matters:

•Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2007

•2007 Revised Estimates for Public Service - Vote 26 (Education and Science) and Annual Output Statement 2007

7. Groups and Individuals attending before Committee

In the period under report, the Joint Committee met the following organisations, groups and individuals:

•Minister for Education and Science, Ms Mary Hanafin

•Officials of the Department of Education and Science

•Parents and Professionals & Autism Northern Ireland (PAPA)

•Mr. David Mac Donald.

•Representatives of National Council for Curriculum Assessment (NCCA)

•Representatives of ICT Ireland

•Representatives of the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI)

8. Reports

8.1 Joint Committee Reports

During the period under report, the Joint Committee published the following reports:

•Annual Report 2006 and Work Programme 2007

9. Travel

None

10. Functions and Powers

The Joint Committee is currently satisfied with its present procedures and role.

____________________

Michael Moynihan, T.D.,

Chairman,

25^th April 2007.