Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in re-establishing a new Education Disadvantage Committee as provided for in Section 32 of the Education Act 1998, in view of the fact that in early 2006 her Department was in contact with relevant interests regarding the role and remit of a new committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12121/07]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when she will re-establish the education disadvantage committee as provided for in Section 32 of the Education Act 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12122/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 219 together.

The role of the Educational Disadvantage Committee is to advise on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage.

My Department wrote to the education and social partners seeking their views on the composition and future work of the committee. Following on full consideration of these views, the members of the new committee will be appointed as provided for under section 32 of the Education Act, 1998.

Under section 32 (3) of the Act, up to half of the membership of the committee shall be appointed from nominees of such voluntary and other bodies which have objects that are considered relevant to the work of the committee.