Michael Creed
Question:47 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education the steps, if any, she will take to ensure the universal availability of art, craft and design as a subject in all secondary schools.
Written Answers. - Art, Craft and Design.
Art, craft, design is available as a subject in 90 per cent of the post-primary schools and is taken by some 45 per cent of the relevant students.
This is a very satisfactory situation considering that no school could provide every option from the very wide range of options available and that, in any event, time constraints would make it impossible for all pupils to avail of all options.
Specialist facilities for art, craft, design are provided in all new schools. The planning and building unit of my Department considers applications from the authorities of existing post-primary schools for extensions which include provision for the teaching of art, craft, design. Any application which is received from a school which is unable to provide the subject because of a lack of facilities receives special consideration.
My Department has been very supportive of art, craft, design by way of incareer development, publications, advice and encouragement from inspectors, the introduction of a new and exciting syllabus and providing a very elaborate examination process.