Olwyn Enright
Question:229 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans to reform the role of school inspectors and to provide a greater number of inspectors with greater resources at their disposal. [19231/02]
Written Answers. - Schools Inspectorate.
The functions of the Department of Education and Science inspectorate are clearly set out in section 13 of the Education Act, 1998, which gives a statutory basis for the work of inspectors. These functions can be categorised broadly as the evaluation of the education system and the provision of advice to policy makers and to the wider system.
As with all public service organisations, the inspectorate operates within the terms of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, and the various elements of the strategic management initiative, including the Department of Education and Science strategy statement and business planning process. In response to a rapidly changing educational environment and in tandem with a major review of Department functions and operations, the inspectorate has completed a significant reorganisation of its structure and management in order to serve better the needs of its many clients within the education system. Detailed information on the organisation has been published in, The Inspectorate, A Brief Guide, a copy of which will be forwarded to the Deputy.
The capacity of the inspectorate to carry out these statutory functions has improved incrementally over recent years. Overall staffing has increased from 117 in 1997 to 162 in 2002 and further staff will take up duty before the end of 2002. As with all sections of the Department, staffing numbers and resource requirements in the inspectorate will be kept under continual review.
The imminent establishment of the examinations commission will remove from the inspectorate its existing and very extensive responsibilities for State examinations. Similarly, in anticipation of the establishment of the special education council, the inspectorate has been relieved of wide-ranging and time-consuming demands on its resources in the matter of special education provision. These changes will allow a fully focused role for the inspectorate on its core evaluative function within the education system.
Questions Nos. 230 and 231 answered with Question No. 228.