Can Michael follow in Micheal's footsteps? (Part 2)

This ties in with another problem waiting for some action from the new Minister: the alarming decline in the study of science at second level. Late last year the director of academic affairs at Intel, Frank Turpin, said Ireland's attractiveness to foreign industry was threatened by the falling status of science in our schools. Martin introduced several initiatives to deal with this, but it looks like being a continuing problem for the new Minister.

At primary level there are a raft of issues which will command his attention. Our dismal performance in relation to literacy is one example. The National Reading Initiative introduced by Martin recently is an attempt to deal with this, but further work may need to be done.

The Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) programme is another issue which needs to be grappled with. According to figures released last year, only 24 per cent of primary schools have introduced the programme. Woods will have to ensure that implementation takes place at a faster rate.

Martin admitted before he left there was a severe shortage of primary teachers at present. As a result he announced an expansion of postgraduate primary teacher-training courses, but more needs to be done by the new Minister to ease the pressures on schools. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has said class sizes are still too large and have called for further resources.

At second level, Woods will have to face up to the issue of assessment at Junior Certificate level. His predecessor stated on several occasions that he was against an "all or nothing" Junior Certificate exam and wanted an element of assessment by teachers introduced.

The ASTI are resolutely opposed to the idea and have put it up to Woods by saying the Department's plans will fail. The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has said it might consider Junior Certificate assessment, but only if there is appropriate remuneration and training.

But even getting some students to Junior Cert level will be a challenge for Woods. According to a recent report issued by the National Youth Federation, about 1,000 children do not even make the transition from primary to second level each year.

The Education Welfare Bill, currently going through the Dail, will assist in some respects, but more work needs to be done.

WOODS WILL also have to take charge of the High Court battle initiated by Martin in relation to school league tables. Martin said he received "very strong legal advice" that his challenge to the decision from the Information Commissioner, Kevin Murphy, would succeed.

While no date has been set for the hearing of the case, Woods will now bear direct responsibility for the outcome. If the Department loses the case, it would represent nothing short of a disaster after taking such a high profile stance on the issue.

In relation to disadvantage, Woods has to decide on the new Educational Disadvantage Committee. Martin promised to set this up in line with the 1998 Education Act, but so far there has been no public announcement.

It is supposed to co-ordinate special initiatives to deal with disadvantage and also examine all education policies from the perspective of disadvantaged students and parents. Woods has to decide how wide its ambit will be and, more importantly perhaps, the people who will sit on it.

The new Minister has already stated that disadvantage will be his priority, so his decisions here are vital ones. Apart from disadvantage, value for money is likely to be the other theme of his time in the Department. What do we get for the £3 billion a year which is spent on education? This means more demands for transparency - and especially more information on how the Department's various programmes are performing.

This is starting to happen already. Under the New Deal package announced by Martin before Christmas, all new initiatives related to disadvantage will be accompanied by "specific objectives in an implementation plan". He also said "annual reports will be published and an independent international review into each element will be commissioned".

For the new education chief this means programmes can be scrutinised by everyone - and harsh judgements will be made if investment is seen to be wasted.