Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I appreciate the Deputy's concern but do not share his opinion that money management should be a specific curriculum subject starting as early as fourth class. There is certainly a need for it at transition year level when teenagers are becoming young adults and are much more open to the vagaries of advertising and the other issues associated with coming of age. Home economics - a subject which I would like to see a much greater number of students, particularly boys, taking - includes a section within consumer studies that deals precisely with budgeting and management of personal income. However, I am not prepared to include it as a specific curriculum subject.

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