Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of individual subject evaluations to be completed in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5568/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Some 641 subject inspections, including approximately 230 subject inspections to be carried out as part of whole-school evaluations, are planned for 2006.

A totally revised format of subject inspection was introduced in September 2001. Since then, there has been a significant increase in the number of subject inspections carried out on an annual basis. In particular, inspection activity at post-primary level increased significantly from 2003 onwards following the recruitment of new inspectors to replace those assigned to the State Examinations Commission.

I laid a signed copy of the Education Act 1998 (Publication of Inspection Reports on Schools and Centres for Education) Regulations 2006 before the Houses of the Oireachtas on Tuesday, 31 January 2006. The purpose of these regulations was to place a legal obligation on the chief inspector to publish reports prepared as a result of school inspections. Simultaneously, the Department of Education and Science published guidelines on the publication of school inspection reports. These regulations and guidelines apply to reports arising from all subject inspections commenced on or after 6 February 2006.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Does the inspection process concentrate on particular subject areas at particular times? How does the Department decide which subjects to choose to inspect at a particular time? What subjects will be selected this year? How many subject inspectors are available to inspect the teaching of Irish?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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On the last point, I believe I answered a parliamentary question tabled by the Deputy last week, which stated the number is four. If that is incorrect, I can come back to the Deputy. However, the inspectorate will not be at full capacity until the end of the year because of training etc.

During a whole school evaluation, one of the core subjects — Irish, English or mathematics — must always be included. In other words, every teacher of that subject in that school would be involved. Regarding other inspections, I am open to correction but I understand they try to take a pattern of subjects to allow them have an evaluation of the teaching of that subject across a wide range.

What the inspectors have done with regard to a number of subjects is publish a composite report. They have already done one on the teaching of modern languages. A composite report on the teaching of Irish at junior certificate level arising from inspections conducted in 75 schools in the past school year is being finalised, and that will be published in the autumn. The inspectors set out to decide what would be included as part of a subject evaluation and then draw lessons from that across the country.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Does the participation of students in terms of a subject rather than a whole school evaluation happen within the classroom? Are students brought to one side or does the inspector meet the students without the teacher present in the classroom? Does it happen as part of the overall class environment?

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My understanding is that the subject inspection is the teaching and learning of the subject. Obviously, that would have to include the way the subject is being taught and received at the other end, so to speak. On the inspections, candidates may be part of the whole school evaluation or may be involved in a stand-alone inspection. The next ones that are planned, which will be very useful, are junior certificate science, English and history during this year. We will publish the one on Irish and they will undertake the reports on the others. That should give a good view of the type of work going on in the schools.