David Stanton
Ceist:126 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the effectiveness of the Consumer Education Development Committee project, Teaching the Consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22030/99]
Written Answers. - Consumer Education Development Committee.
The project Teaching the Consumer was developed by the Consumer Education Development Committee with the financial support of Directorate General XXIV of the European Commission. The work was done in partnership with the General Consumer Council of Northern Ireland and the Consumentenbond, the Netherlands.
The project's target groups were students and teachers in primary and second level schools; adult education groups; disadvantaged groups; women's and community groups, especially those in disadvantaged rural and urban areas.
During the lifetime of the project – September 1998 to August 1999 – the following materials were produced: "totally consumed – a consumer education study pack; "totally consumed"– teacher manual; a CD-ROM entitled "Totally Consumed".
A wide range of participants took part in the development of the materials. These included the health promotion unit of the Department of Health and Children; the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs; the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment; the National Council for Vocational Awards; the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; the Association of Teachers of Home Economics; CDVEC curriculum development unit; post primary schools; Youthreach; the Irish Country Women's Association.
Copies of the draft materials were distributed, inter alia, to the project's European partners; the National Centre for Technology in Education; the Association of Teachers of Home Economics; the Business Studies Teachers Association; and the Irish Banks Information Service.
In addition, the materials were distributed to approximately 25 teachers of leaving certificate applied during the September in-service programme.
While it is too early yet to ascertain the effectiveness of the materials produced, the Consumer Education Development Committee intends, in due course, to evaluate users' responses with a view to making any necessary amendments before proceeding to a wider dissemination of the materials.