Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 758: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the total cost of the programme of inservice for leaving certificate biology, including trainer, teacher, education centre expenses and resources which was based in the Tralee education centre from September 2000 to August 2004. [19647/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The national biology support service was established in January 2001. The operational cost of the programme from January 2001 to August 2004 was €1,645,611, which was allocated by my Department through the Tralee Education Centre. In addition, secondment and substitution costs associated with the programme, which were met centrally, are estimated to be in the region of €1,500,000.

Although the intensive phase of support for the revised syllabus for leaving certificate biology has now been completed, my Department continues to provide a programme of curriculum implementation support and professional development in this area through second level support service, or SLSS. Although the SLSS is based in Blackrock education centre, Tralee education centre continues to support the administration of the biology programme.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 759: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the cost to date of the programme of inservice for junior certificate, including trainer, teacher, education centre expenses and resources which is based in the Sligo education centre. [19648/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the junior certificate science support service which is based in Sligo education centre. The operational cost to date of this programme of in-service is €775,000 which was allocated by my Department through the Sligo education centre. In addition, secondment and substitution costs associated with the junior certificate science support service, which are met centrally in the Department, are estimated to be in the region of €700,000.