An insider's guide to education

The new education minister, Mary Hanafin, is reading the brief and taking her time before making any appointments to her inner "cabinet". The new Minister has still to decide whether to appoint a political adviser and/or an external education expert. She is also taking her time before appointing a press officer.

Gerry Murray, a Department official who worked as programme manager when Noel Dempsey was minister, has returned to regular duties.

The new Minister has made a very strong impression in her first week. She has already been in phone contact with virtually all the main players in education.

There is a widespread welcome for her friendly, non- confrontational style.

Her first real test will come in the December Budget. Noel Dempsey was very successful in securing a record level of funding for dilapidated primary schools. With extra money in the Exchequer kitty, the new Minister could make an immediate impression by pushing up third-level funding (after two years of cutbacks), by reducing class size at primary level and by extracting new funding for special needs.

Visitors to the recent national ploughing championships will have been surprised to see a stand taken by Cistercian College, Roscrea, Tipperary - one of the most venerable schools in the State. The seven-day-a-week boarding school was highlighting its many attractions to the farming community.

The school is entitled to blow its own trumpet. No less than 21 of the 62 boys who sat the Leaving Cert there last year got over 500 CAO points. This represents 35 per cent of all Leaving Cert pupils, compared to the national average of just seven per cent who got over 500 points. In addition, 37 of the boys - or 60 per cent of the class - got over 400 points.

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