Aaviksoo replied to interpellation concerning financing of education building of Estonian Academy of Arts
The Minister of Education and Research Jaak Aaviksoo replied to the interpellation concerning the financing of the education building of the Estonian Academy of Arts (No 95), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mailis Reps, Viktor Vassiljev, Eldar Efendijev, Yana Toom, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Valeri Korb, Deniss Boroditš, Vladimir Velman, Lauri Laasi, Peeter Võsa, Enn Eesmaa, Rainer Vakra, Jüri Ratas, Priit Toobal and Kalle Laanet on 18 January.
Aaviksoo admitted that so many problems had arisen in connection with the new education building of the Academy of Arts that solving them had become quite a big challenge. At the same time he admitted that if a discussion on the volume and completion deadlines of the new education building had started some time ago, then, by today, a significantly more serious discussion has arisen on the sustainability of the Academy of Arts and the consistency of art education, or, to be more precise, art education at higher education level.
According to the Minister’s explanations, the Academy of Arts had submitted an application for the extension of the term for submission of the building permit on 18 November. In the financing decision of Archimedes Foundation, there had been a reference to the right of the final beneficiary to revoke the decision to satisfy an application for support in the case when the final recipient has failed to submit a building permit to the final beneficiary on time. Aaviksoo added that, after the Academy of Arts had filed a challenge, he had asked for supervision of the legitimacy of the activities of the Academy of Arts to be carried out. “We have also agreed with the Academy of Arts that it would be necessary to carry out a financial sustainability audit of the Academy of Arts,” Aaviksoo noted. The supervision report is due on 9 March and the financial situation and sustainability report is due at the end of this week, after the Academy of Arts will have had an opportunity to provide its comments on this report.
The Minister admitted that Archimedes Foundation continues to hold the position that the time schedule of the implementation of the project submitted by the Estonian Academy of Arts is not realistic and the question of the financing of the whole project has arisen even more sharply than before. Aaviksoo hopes that, together with the Estonian Academy of Arts, on the basis of objective assessments, they will be able to outline a future-looking development perspective in the realisation of which the Ministry of Education and Research is willing to help the Estonian Academy of Arts in every way, in the first place through the priority of ensuring the sustainability of art education at higher education level.
In the Minister’s opinion, it is regrettably unlikely that that building can be built on that site within such time limit and on the basis of that project. In Aaviksoo’s words, the decisions that are made have to be responsible in such a way that the Academy of Arts together with the Ministry of Education and Research as well as Archimedes Foundation would be responsible for the results.
Aaviksoo also replied to the interpellation concerning Vaeküla school (No 111), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Rannar Vassiljev, Indrek Saar and Helmen Kütt on 13 February.
The Minister of Justice Kristen Michal replied to the interpellation concerning persons unjustly detained (No 96), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Peeter Võsa, Inara Luigas, Viktor Vassiljev and Yana Toom on 18 January.
The Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to the interpellation concerning the fiscal marking of liquid fuel (No 101), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Kalev Kotkas, Kalvi Kõva, Jaan Õunapuu, Rein Randver and Jevgeni Ossinovski on 26 January.
The Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur replied to two interpellations. They were the following:
the interpellation concerning the availability of medical care in Estonia (No 91), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Marika Tuus-Laul, Viktor Vassiljev, Yana Toom, Eldar Efendijev, Mailis Reps, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Deniss Boroditš, Vladimir Velman, Lauri Laasi, Peeter Võsa, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Tarmo Tamm, Kalle Laanet, Rainer Vakra, Jüri Ratas, Olga Sõtnik and Priit Toobal on 16 January;
the interpellation concerning failure to provide treatment to patients (No 94), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Rainer Vakra, Tarmo Tamm, Eldar Efendijev, Enn Eesmaa, Inara Luigas, Peeter Võsa, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Marika Tuus-Laul, Jüri Ratas, Viktor Vassiljev, Yana Toom, Kalle Laanet and Deniss Boroditš on 18 January.
The Minister of Internal Affairs Ken-Marti Vaher replied to the interpellation concerning Estonia as a transit corridor for Russian organised crime (No 102), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Deniss Boroditš, Kadri Simson, Tarmo Tamm, Inara Luigas, Ester Tuiksoo, Priit Toobal and Rainer Vakra on 26 January.
Today, the Minister of Internal Affairs Ken-Marti Vaher did not have to reply to the interpellation concerning the using of tyres complying with requirements (No 93), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Deniss Boroditš, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev, Tarmo Tamm, Viktor Vassiljev, Rainer Vakra, Jüri Ratas, Kalle Laanet and Valeri Korb on 18 January, because the interpellators withdrew it.
During the open microphone, Mihhail Stalnuhhin and Mailis Reps took the floor.
The sitting ended at 6.25 p.m.
The Riigikogu Press Service
