Vol. 401 No. 6
24 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Education if she will outline her views regarding the serious issues raised in reservation No. 1 to the Report of the Review Body on the Primary Curriculum including the figure of 17 per cent quoted for severe reading difficulties among innercity 12 year olds; and her plans to ensure that pupils do not have severe reading problems at the end of their primary school years.
The Deputy will be aware that I have arranged, through the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, for a comprehensive consultation process on the report of the primary curriculum review body. Concurrently a thorough examination of the report is being undertaken by my Department. I will be considering the report in the light of the results of this examination and the consultation process. In the meantime I do not think that it would be helpful or advisable for me to comment on specific aspects of the report particularly where they involve reservations expressed by one member of the body.
