asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the success or otherwise of the new curriculum in primary schools.

Educational innovation, as the Deputy is aware, is a slow process and it is too soon, in my view, to attempt a definitive assessment in relation to the new curriculum in primary schools.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary have what might be described as a non-definitive assessment?

I could give the Deputy my own assessment of the matter but I do not think that would be of much interest to him.

When was the new curriculum introduced?

I have not got the precise date but it was introduced during the late 'sixties.

Are the Department not yet in a position to say whether that innovation appears to have been a success or otherwise?

As the Deputy is aware, education imparted in primary schools is not merely intended as a preparation for secondary school but as a preparation also for life. To a certain extent one must see the children in question through their full education in order to discover the extent to which the new curriculum has been beneficial compared with those children who received their education under the old system. Undoubtedly the new curriculum has brought about many improvements in the atmosphere in schools. Information that has come to me recently in relation to the basic skills such as reading indicates that, despite some opinion to the contrary, this skill has been maintained at as high if not a higher level than was the case under the old system.

That applies only to English.

The Parliamentary Secretary is isolating one area. In the interest of education generally it is my opinion that it is appropriate to have a report on the application of the new curriculum in primary schools.

May we have a question, please?

It was introduced on an experimental basis but the Department should be in a position at this stage to report on whether it has been a success.

There is in progress a considerable degree of study on a general basis of the impact of this curriculum but as to the question of reaching a definitive judgment on the totality of the experiment, the professional people involved in this matter in the Department say it is too early yet to be able to reach a definitive judgment.