Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 573: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when the first statutory Educational Disadvantage Committee completed its term of office; when the committee was re-established and its remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17440/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Educational Disadvantage Committee, an independent statutory committee, was established in March, 2002 under the Education Act, 1998. Members were appointed to the Committee for a period not exceeding three years. The term of office of the Committee was extended until 30 June 2005 in order to facilitate the completion of the Committee's final report. The role of the 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.