Vol. 495 No. 7
666 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on each of the recommendations of the recent report of the Irish Council for Science Technology and Innovation which fall within his responsibility; and the date by which he intends to have action taken in respect of these recommendations. [21033/98]
Science is an integral part of the curricular area of social, environmental and scientific education in the revised primary curriculum. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently in the final stages of preparation of the new programmes and it is intended that all curriculum statements and teacher guidelines, including those for science, will be introduced to schools within the current school year. Among the issues for which guidance will be provided is the question of curricular timetabling.
I have established an implementation group within my Department to oversee the complex and multi-faceted process of introducing the revised curriculum to schools. The brief of this group includes planning for in-career development of teachers in all areas of the revised curriculum, including science.
