Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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527. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer associated with State funding for a practical programme of driver education and a pathway to pass the driver theory test for final-year students at all secondary level schools, aiming to equip young adults with a potential mode of transport upon completing school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27536/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There are no plans at present to introduce the kind of driver education programme the Deputy refers to into the curriculum. Accordingly, no costing exercises in relation to this have been carried out by my Department.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been involved for a number of years in providing a comprehensive integrated road safety education programme in pre-school, primary, post-primary, third level and in the community. This has been done in partnership with many organisations including the Department of Education, An Garda Síochána, the Health & Safety Authority and the Higher Education Authority. As part of this, the RSA has developed a range of material that teachers can use to educate school children about road safety as it applies to all road users – pedestrians, motorcyclists, cyclists and motorists. The resources are tailored to each user group. These are available on their website . In addition, while at post-primary level there are no plans to introduce mandatory driver education classes, basic tuition to lay a foundation in driver education is featured on many school curricula already.

In relation to 16-18 year olds, there are opportunities built into the programmes for students to engage with the content of the driver theory test. For example, the 'Your road to safety' Transition Year programme, consists of a 45-hour version and a 20-hour fast-track option. The programme provides important educational material and learning on road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and motorists. It covers such issues as seatbelts and airbags, driver fatigue, drink/drug driving, road-safety engineering and enforcement, basic first aid at road crashes, emergency services and rehabilitation, licensing and insurance issues, the NCT, purchasing a car and driving abroad. The programme does not include driving lessons. However, relevant driver theory test content is included at the end of each module.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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528. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer associated with State funding for a practical programme of first-aid and CPR life-saving skills for all Leaving Certificate students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27537/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There are no plans at present to introduce First Aid into the Leaving Certificate curriculum. Accordingly, no costing exercises in relation to this have been carried out by my Department.

The curriculum in second level schools must meet an extensive range of needs in catering for the cognitive, emotional, imaginative, aesthetic, social, physical and moral development of students, and in preparing them for the demands of citizenship, lifelong learning and social and economic participation.

The Deputy may wish to note that at Junior Cycle, the curriculum is made up of a combination of full subjects and short courses. Some short courses will be designed centrally by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and others by schools themselves or other bodies, using the template provided by the NCCA. It is therefore open to a school or other bodies to develop a short course in first aid training, for use in schools. There are also opportunities within Transition Year in which a flexible menu of learning modules can be provided by schools within the context of a framework for the programme set out by the Department. As part of this, it is open to schools to provide first aid training if they wish to do so.

Schools are encouraged to engage with community groups and a wide range of stakeholders to provide for extra-curricular learning opportunities such as first-aid training or to give talks to students, although it should be noted that it is the policy of the Department of Education not to endorse any products or programmes produced by external parties for use in schools.