Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)

The junior certificate is, in the first instance, a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. However, I believe that the reformed junior certificate, and the proposed short courses in particular, offer significant opportunities for important cross-subject learning. Education in the area of road safety is one such possibility.

The Road Safety Authority's current approach to road safety education is to deliver road user education in a cumulative, age appropriate approach commencing in preschool settings, through to third level and on into community settings. Road safety education ensures all road users develop appropriate attitudes and safe behaviours. The authority's road safety educational programmes are not currently compulsory but are aligned with the relevant curriculum strands in each educational setting.

While we have made significant progress on road safety in recent years, we need to continue to focus on ways of making our roads safer. A key factor in road safety is driver behaviour, and education clearly has an important role in influencing the behaviour of existing and future drivers. The proposed development of the junior cycle programme presents opportunities for the Road Safety Authority to further develop its existing road safety programme, Streetwise. This programme could be developed to take advantage of the proposed short courses - 100 hours - or integrated into the priority learning units outlined in "Towards a Framework for the Junior Cycle: Proposals for Junior Cycle Development". I continue to engage with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, with a view to progressing this matter, and will keep the House advised of such progress.

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