THE Education Bill will bring decision making closer to schools, the Minister for Education told delegates at the TUI congress.
In a staunch defence of the Bill, Ms Breathnach said the proposed education boards would represent the greatest devolution of decision making from the central Department of Education in the history of the State. "It is no longer acceptable that decisions about each of the 4,000 schools in Ireland have to come from one central Department.
Teacher representatives will have statutory entitlement to membership of school boards of management and education boards, she said. They will also be able to make an input into the school plan and the regional plan.
A teaching council will be established add a committee will be set up which will be representative of the concerned interests, to examine the legal, constitutional and operational issues associated with the establishment of the council.
Following completion of the committee's work, the Minister will publish a draft legislative framework for the establishment of the council. "The role of the council will be to set and maintain the highest professional standards in the interest of teachers, students, their parents and the wider community," she said.
Ms Breathnach told delegates that she is committed to partnership and co operation. "I will continue this approach and seek agreement over conflict, progress over controversy. Innovation and change can be uncomfortable but she will work with teachers to alleviate fears, she said.
Third level education should be within the grasp of all students who can benefit from it. "We are making progress in that direction; the last 10 years have seen a marked increase of 40,000 students or 70 per cent in the enrolment of students at third level institutes." About £1 56 million has been spent on third level capital developments since 1992.
The European Regional Development Fund will invest £120 million in the third level capital programme over the years from 1994 to 1999. "This will improve access to third level education and will ensure the attainment of social and economic goals by the provision of the highest standards in education.
Responding to queries about the constitutionality of the Bill, the Minister said she was confident that it would prove to be constitutional.