Vol. 509 No. 3
95 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the growing frustration with the support and planning for the implementation of the primary curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20039/99]
I am satisfied that the arrangements which have been put in place to support the implementation of the revised primary school curriculum are appropriate and will provide high quality professional development opportunities for teachers and the wider education community. A major programme of training and support for all primary teachers, involving an unprecedented allocation of resources to such an initiative, commenced this month with the first of a series of two-day courses entitled "An Introduction to the Curriculum". This course has already been attended by over 3,000 teachers and will be followed by further courses and support over the next four-to-five year period. Feedback from the courses run to date has been very positive and encouraging and it is my intention that the effectiveness of the support programme, as well as the levels of implementation in schools, will be closely monitored over the coming years.
