Written Answers. - Euro Changeover.
Jack Wall
Question:
388
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he has satisfied himself with the information available to schools in relation to the euro changeover in January 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19246/01]
Seán Ryan
Question:
409
Mr. S. Ryan
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if he will report on the availability of school text books for September 2001 which reflect the changeover to the euro; when the new texts will be available; and the information in this regard which is being given to schools and parents.
[18645/01]
Róisín Shortall
Question:
463
Ms Shortall
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some of the standard textbooks that will be used for the curriculum in 2002 have amounts shown in pounds and not in euros; if his attention has further been drawn to the confusion and annoyance this has caused amongst parents; if his attention has further been drawn to the extra cost it will entail if such textbooks have to be replaced in 2002; the advice his Department is giving to parents in this regard; the action he is taking to deal with this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[19088/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 388, 409 and 463 together.
My Department has taken a range of initiatives to support schools in the lead up to the introduction of the euro.
A special euro schools group was set up to focus on the role of the education sector in the process of information provision and awareness-raising for the changeover, and to support the schools and other educational institutions in this process. The group comprises representatives from my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the National Centre for Technology in Education and the Euro Changeover Board of Ireland.
Guidelines on the introduction of the euro were issued to all primary and second-level teachers in October 2000. The guidelines are aimed at helping teachers introduce the euro to their pupils; they identify areas where opportunities exist for this process within the curriculum. A range of complementary supports and information leaflets has been produced in conjunction with the parties mentioned and further information will issue in the course of the current year.
In the context of planning the implementation of the revised primary curriculum, my Department has held a number of meetings with representatives of the various publishing companies. Assurances have been received in the course of those meetings that resources currently being developed by those companies for schools, especially in the area of the revised mathematics curriculum will take account of the change over to the euro.
However, apart from a small number of prescribed texts at second level, mainly in the case of language subjects, school textbooks are not approved or prescribed by my Department. Decisions on which books to use are taken at school level. School authorities have been advised regularly that textbooks should be changed only to the extent that is absolutely necessary.
I appreciate that costs associated with the purchase of schoolbooks can place a financial burden on parents. To alleviate such burdens, my Department operates a grant scheme towards the cost of providing school textbooks for needy pupils in primary and post-primary schools and urges school authorities to put in place book rental schemes to the greatest extent possible.
