Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 633: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the status of the promise in the programme for Government that every school will receive support for the purchase of appropriate and age related literacy tests to assist teachers in their work; the form this support has taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7014/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is working with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, on the development of a national system of standardised testing for primary school children, whereby all pupils would take standardised tests in literacy and numeracy at the end of first class or at the beginning of second class and at the end of fourth class or at the beginning of fifth class.

Important groundwork is being put in place to support this development and my Department is currently exploring potential implementation models. I have secured funding in the 2006 Estimates to make rapid progress in this area in the coming school year. The funding of literacy testing documentation for schools will be examined in that context.