Dáil debates

Thursday, 22 March 2007

4:00 pm

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

It would be far too narrow to allow any one agency to have control over setting up the database. The information that could be gleaned from it is of wide application. Nor should it be available to all the other relevant bodies. It is important that this information should be kept within the Department of Education and Science. I do not know it if was ever intended that the NEWB should have a role in establishing the database, but that is certainly no longer the intention.

Deputy Enright has tabled questions on the disadvantaged status of various schools. If all that empirical data were included in a database, we would not have to ask the schools for it. By undertaking an effective feasibility study, we will ensure we have the type of database we need. We are talking about an enormous investment in a computer system. We must ensure the on-line claims system is operational in all 4,000 schools and we can then build on that experience.

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