Olivia Mitchell
Question:349 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the action he intends to take in the area of driver education on foot of the recommendations of the NCCA task group. [14683/01]
Written Answers. - Driver Education.
In early November 2000, I requested the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, to set up a task group to examine the question of driver education in second level schools. The group was given three months to report on the subject. I understand that the task group met on two occasions, on 5 December 2000 and on 17 January 2001. The NCCA submitted a report to me on the work of the task group on 5 March 2001.
The basic recommendation of the task group is that a three-phase pilot project on driver education be set up in order to: provide a critical overview of current provision and practice in driver education and general road safety programmes in the Republic of Ireland; evaluate an initiative already in place in a Dublin school; and undertake a national pilot project in driver education which would run in a small sample of schools under carefully monitored conditions.
Arising from this project, the task group would be in a position to advise me on the future direction of driver education.
I informed the NCCA on 8 May 2001, that it will be necessary for the relevant sections of my Department to discuss the considerable funding implications of the proposed project before a decision is taken. The relevant officers of my Department will initiate these discussions as soon as possible.