John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the action she has taken or intends to take arising from the report and recommendations made by the task force on the physical sciences; the number of the recommendations acted on to date; the cost of each; the amount of funds allocated in her Department's budget in 2005 to help implement the recommendations; the number of technicians employed or to be employed at primary and second level; the amount of funding allocated for 2005 to improve school buildings at primary level to facilitate the teaching of the subject; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13160/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are some 39 recommendations in the report, with costed proposals totalling €244 million extra, of which €66.3 million would be a recurring annual cost. Funds are not available at present to progress the strategy on the scale recommended in the report. Of the 39 recommendations, four are not for the education sector. Of the remainder, progress has been made on 25 of the recommendations. In that context, the following developments have taken place.

A new science curriculum has been introduced at primary level supported by a resource grant in December 2004 of €1,000 per school plus €10 per pupil. The total cost of the grant was €7.739 million.

Revised syllabi in junior certificate science and in leaving certificate physics, chemistry and biology have been introduced. Work on the revision of the two remaining leaving vertificate subjects — agricultural science and physics and chemistry combined — is well advanced. The introduction of the revised syllabi has been supported by comprehensive inservice programmes for teachers. For example, some 62,000 training days for teachers at an estimated cost of €5.6 million was provided in 2002 and 2003 to support these programmes. An estimated €920,000 in 2004 and €980,000 in 2005 is being spent on inservice training for second level science teachers.

Additional equipment grants have been provided to schools and laboratories continue to be refurbished as part of the ongoing schools building programme. In that context, €16 million was issued to schools in 2004 to support the implementation of the revised junior certificate science syllabus.

A review of grading of subjects in the leaving certificate and initial reports on teacher training have been undertaken.

A review of mathematics at post-primary level is being undertaken by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

Investment in the programme of research in third level institutes is continuing apace to enhance and promote world class standards in research, innovation and development. Between this programme and the various grants to the research councils, and other sources, an estimated €101.5 million will be invested in third level institutions in this area in 2005. This builds on investment over the period 2002-04 of €213.7 million in this area. The discover science and engineering programme, operated under the aegis of Forfás with the collaboration of the education sector, was launched in October 2003 to bring together existing science awareness activities in a unified strategy.

I have recently announced a provision of €750,000 towards the cost of the BA festival of science which is being hosted by Trinity College this year. This is one of the world's leading science events and will be attended by some 3,000 delegates, with an estimated 7,000-10,000 people enjoying some part of the programme.

Separate itemised costings are not readily available for the other measures listed, which are being or have been implemented over a number of years. I have no plans to make provision for technicians at primary and post primary level. The estimated cost of technicians at post primary level in the task force report was €18.8 million per annum at 2002 prices, and provision is this area would lead to demands for similar assistance across other areas of the curriculum with a strong practical component. Many European countries do not employ laboratory assistants.

A separate figure has not been provided for in 2005 in the school building programme to facilitate the teaching of science at primary level. Overall, however, an unprecedented €270 million is being invested in building, equipment and refurbishment of primary schools this year.