Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action and initiatives which are being undertaken by her Department, for the European year of citizenship through education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4691/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Council of Europe launched the 2005 European Year of Citizenship through Education last December. In organising this year, the Council of Europe aims to draw attention to the importance of education in the development of citizenship and the quality of participation in a democratic society.

The year will first and foremost be aimed at reaching education policy deciders, multipliers and professionals with a specific interest in citizenship through education. The focus of the year will be on policy and practice issues in the formal and non-formal areas of education.

My Department is currently putting in place a number of measures to ensure a successful year in Ireland. Further details on the year are available on the Council of Europe website www.coe.int. A formal launch of the year in Ireland will take place in the near future at which further details will be announced.