Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 435: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to maximise the use of information technology to cut down on administration and put a database in place to track primary pupils. [18367/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Work on the development of a Learner Database at Primary Level is continuing. A Feasibility Study has been undertaken in relation to the use of a single data portal or gateway to facilitate schools in relation to data transmission to my Department and a number of associated agencies. The results of this Study will be considered along with options for the development of a single Database to cover Primary and Post-Primary. It is expected that the first phase of this will extend to Primary level once the necessary specification, user-testing and training has been undertaken.

The timing of the implementation of the Database depends on available resources and the management of competing priorities. However, in line with the Programme of Government and the Data Strategy of my Department, and taking advantage of the existing Education Services Interactive (esinet) portal already used by schools to access the On-Line Claims System, I am fully committed to the development of such a Database as a means of better quality information on pupils as well as reducing the administrative burden on schools.