Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the level of expenditure which has been allocated by him to whole school evaluations and subject inspections at primary and second level each year since the introduction of such inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32824/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Whole-school evaluations (WSE) and subject inspections form just part of the Inspectorate's business plan in any given year. It should be noted that subject inspections are conducted in post-primary schools only. Inspectors are involved in a wide range of other work such as programme evaluations, the preparation of composite and thematic evaluation reports on aspects of educational provision in schools, inspection of primary teachers on probation 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 on policy issues including teacher education, special education, and qualifications, curriculum 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 and subject inspections are not recorded separately from the cost of the wide range of other evaluative and policy advisory work done by the Inspectorate outlined above.

The costs associated with the complete work programme of the Inspectorate division of my Department, for each year since the introduction of whole-school evaluations in 2004, are provided below.

The gross travel and subsistence expenses for the Inspectorate, paid in accordance with Civil Service rates in the years 2004 to 2008, were as follows: 2004 – €1,429,696.90 2005 – €1,378,130.38 2006 – €1,576,419.31 2007 – €1,693,653.27 2008 – €1,558,952.27 The gross salaries for the Inspectorate, paid in the years 2004 to 2008, were as follows: 2004 – €10,033,069.35 2005 – €11,359,291.62 2006 – €14,448,758.64 2007 – €13,326,958.45 2008 – €14,342,506.65