Brendan Griffin
Question:241. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills to consider a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9854/16]
View answerTuesday, 17 May 2016
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Written answers
The Department of Education and Skills has done its utmost to support and embrace the educational aspects of the Ireland 2016 commemorative programme. Under its auspices, the Professional Development Service for Teachers has already placed approximately 70 resources about 1916 on the Scoilnet portal for teachers and students, many of them produced by teachers themselves.
The book, Simplified History - The 1916 Rising is a most engaging production, with a lot of well-explained facts and some beautiful and engaging visuals. It would, however, be contrary to current Department policy to purchase and distribute any privately or commercially produced publications, in any curricular area. It is for schools themselves to choose what resources they feel best suit their students and teachers, taking cognisance of any syllabi or curricular guidelines which may be produced from time to time. The Department wishes Ms O'Reilly well with the publication, but regrets that it cannot otherwise support this production, in the interests of fairness to all other historians and authors.