Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 432: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will estimate the amount that his Department will spend during 2009 on whole school evaluations. [3175/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Whole-school evaluations (WSE) form just one part of the Inspectorate's business plan in any given year. In addition, inspectors are involved in a wide range of other work such as subject inspections, programme evaluations, the preparation of composite and thematic evaluation reports on aspects of educational provision in schools and participation in appeal boards established under Section 29 of the Education Act. Inspectors also provide advice on an on-going basis to various sections within the Department including teacher education, special education, and curriculum, qualifications and assessment policy.

As the Inspectorate is part of the Department of Education and Science, all costs associated with its work are paid from the administrative budget of the Department. Costs exclusively associated with whole-school evaluations are not recorded separately from the cost of other work done by the Inspectorate or the cost of other evaluations such as subject inspections which frequently take place at the same time. Furthermore, inspectors are involved in the wide range of work outlined above on a continuing basis.

The gross salary cost for the Inspectorate in 2008 was €13,575,860. The total travel and subsistence expenses paid, in accordance with Civil Service rates, in 2008 was €1,545,038. The outputs achieved in 2008 included 3,787 inspections (WSE, subject/programme inspections, probationary teachers, etc) and the publication of composite/thematic reports on Music, Home Economics, Materials Technology (Wood) and Construction Studies, Junior Cycle Science and ICT in schools. The outputs planned for 2009 are in line with those achieved in 2008, thus it is expected that similar costs will be incurred in 2009.