Jul 2008
Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release | |||||||||
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| Tuesday July 1st 2008 | |||||||||
Forum on Europe Wasted €2 Million in 2007 Alone - Creighton | |||||||||
Forum Should Be Scrapped & Money Invested in Education Fine Gael European Affairs Spokesperson, Lucinda Creighton TD, has today (Tuesday) revealed information showing that the Forum on Europe cost €2 million in 2007 alone, adding that this must be considered as public money wasted as the Forum failed in its objective to inform citizens of European Affairs. "Since it was established in 2001, the total cost of running the Forum on Europe has amounted to €6.75 million (see table below). This includes a staggering €2 million in 2007. "Spending such a massive amount on the Forum must be considered a waste as not one person I met, or that I heard was surveyed, mentioned the Forum as a decent information source. In fact, the vast majority of the country did not even know it existed. There are better ways to spend public money. "I believe that the Forum should be abolished and this money ought to be invested in well-resourced and well-targeted schools programmes aimed at educating young people about the European Union and how it functions. There is currently no adequate schools programme focusing on the EU. This is bizarre given how relevant the EU is to the lives of every single citizen of Ireland. Eighty per cent of all legislation now emanates form the European Union. Surely our young people should be plugged into this important decision making process." Ends To ask the Taoiseach the annual operating cost of the National Forum on Europe each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. The operating costs over the past five years were: |
