Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will request the History in Service team to review the teaching and resourcing of modern Irish history in a comprehensive and impartial manner in order to avoid party political bias following her decision to accept the recommendation of her Department's inspectorate to distribute Judging Dev from the History in Service team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9273/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The decision to distribute Judging Dev was taken following an initial approach from the History In Service Team (HIST) and was a multi-faceted collaboration between the HIST, the Royal Irish Academy and RTE. It is not unusual for the teacher support services operated by my Department to collaborate from time to time with outside organisations on imaginative initiatives which make available quality and relevant resources which enhance teaching and learning.

Should a similar request arise in future, my Department will consider the distribution of materials with regard to curriculum relevance and budgetary issues.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 455: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools who have received a copy of Judging Dev, the biography of Eamon DeValera; the number who have acknowledged receipt of the book; if An Post or another company was contracted by her Department to deliver two copies of the book to every school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9274/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Two copies of the Judging Dev book were sent to all post primary schools in the country. Acknowledgements of receipt of the book were not requested and have not been received, although feedback from teachers attending in service in History has been positive. The book was packaged by staff in my Department and distributed through the Department's normal postal service.