Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 700: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of surveys and questionnaires which have been sent out to primary schools for completion and return in each of the past five years and to date in 2005; if the information obtained has been put to productive use; if the time spent by principals and teachers on these documents could be more usefully otherwise spent in the interests of teaching and learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19172/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The specific information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department.

I am acutely aware of the administrative burden placed on schools and the effect this has on the workload of principals. I have started a process of review of the administrative burden imposed on schools arising from departmental and legislative requirements. I believe that we can collectively seek opportunities to ensure that this burden is kept to the minimum, consistent with achieving the worthwhile and indeed essential objectives of legislation in recent years.

The core purpose of the review I have set in motion is to focus sharply upon administrative processes and consequent administrative burdens which arise within the school as a result of regulations and-or departmental requirements and to consider what scope exists for alleviating these or having them performed in a more efficient and less demanding manner from the perspectives of the school.

Last March my Department wrote to the various representative bodies inviting them to consider where and in what way present processes can be improved upon. A number of responses have been received to date and officials of my Department have met several representative bodies on foot of these responses. The work is ongoing and I have no doubt meaningful solutions can be found in respect of this important issue.