The current Junior Certificate examination process is to be phased out over the next eight years.
It will be replaced with continuous assessments and a test carried out by individual schools rather than a State exam.
The radical shake-up of the system was announced by the Education Minsiter Ruairi Quinn this afternoon.
From the Department of Education Fergal O’Brien reports:
The Taoiseach says he asked that assurances be given that there was no Ministerial interference in the selection of sites for Primary Care centres.
Enda Kenny said he asked for the assurances to be provided after news reports yesterday revealed
/> that one of the sites chosen is owned by a supporter of Dr James Reilly.
Earlier the Tánaiste told the Dáil that he was satisfied all was above board after meeting the Health Minister, Secretary General of the Department and new H-S-E boss earlier.
Speaking following a meeting the President of the European Parliament, Enda Kenny said he arranged for the assurances to be given to the Labour leader:
The Army has diffused two bombs in North Dublin today.
The bomb squad was called to the Tara Lawn area of Darndale this morning as part of a planned operation by Gardai.
Local residents were taken to a safe location after the devices were found in a disused shed.
The remains of the devices will be handed over to Gardai later, as part of their investigations.
79 people have been arrested globally as part of a major clampdown on illegal tablets.
Four of those were detained in Ireland, and over 120,000 counterfeit and illegal pills were also seized here.
They’ve an an estimated value of €375,000.
The British Prime Minister David Cameron has issued a heartfelt appeal for information about missing five-year-old April Jones.
Mr Cameron says the disappearance is “every family’s nightmare” and has urged witnesses to come forward.
Detectives have been given more time to question 46-year-old Mark Bridger over her abduction.
He was arrested on Tuesday after his neighbour Gloria Edwards pointed police in the right direction.
