Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To clarify, I am fully in favour of the extensions the Government has made to the remit of the freedom of information Bill, but in this case, if one looks at section 7 of the Bill, it is just bringing it into line with the Education Act, 1998. It is only the information specified in that legislation, that is, academic information on results. It refers to the information specified that would allow for league tables to be produced. In other words, as successive Governments have agreed, we do not want to facilitate league tables which we believe would not be good for the education system and would not serve the needs of students or schools. It only refers to that level of information; it is not about other general information on schools. For example, the information we have on DEIS schools would not be included. Prescribed public bodies are provided for, whereby one can release or share assessment and examination data with other public bodies for the purposes of research. For the purposes of research and information, certain prescribed public bodies can be given information, subject to ministerial approval or direction. This is not about facilitating the drawing up of league tables which we consider would be damaging. It is not about withholding information from parents and school communities but rather about preventing the use of data in a way that would not serve parents, students or the education system. That is my view and I think it has been the view of successive Governments.