Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 241: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put in place a database of primary school children here; his views that the lack of such a database limits the effectiveness of monitoring absenteeism, transition to second level, and so on; if he has had any discussions with the National Education Welfare Board on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1078/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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My Department continues to seek to enhance the quality and timeliness of datasets which are required for resource planning purposes, most notably in providing online facilities to streamline the collection of data. In recent years a number of initiatives have been developed in the area of online interaction with schools the esinet portal through which these online services are delivered already has a number of applications in place, including an On-Line Claim system for teacher absences, online application for certain support services, and a facility to upload post-primary pupil data returns.

The development of a database for all schools and colleges aided by my Department is vital to the provision of evidence-based data on progression of students through the system and, especially, to identify those at risk of dropping out or under-achieving. My Department has committed to the development of such a database in it's Data Strategy 2008-2010. As part of the development of the Data Strategy consultations were carried out with many of my Department's agencies to discuss how data could best be collected and shared in a manner which reduces the overall administrative burden for the school and allows for the most efficient operation and provision of services to the pupil.

There have been a number of developments in recent years in the area of pupil data collection from post-primary schools. My Department is currently in the process of streamlining the post-primary returns process to allow for a live online system allowing for easy exchange of information that reflects the up-to-date situation in regard to enrolment at any one time and to cut down on administrative burden and the scale of paper-based information flows across the Department and its associated agencies. It is intended to pilot this development in the 2012\2013 academic year.

My Department intends to proceed, as soon as timing and resources permit, to extend this development to primary level schools. Once this is done, my Department will have access to an integrated live Learners database covering primary and post-primary level, which will allow for the effective monitoring of progression, and for enhanced policy planning using real-time data.