Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 647: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the involvement of his Department in the creation of a national entrepreneurship policy as recommended in the Small Business Forum report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22672/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Small Business Forum Report placed a particular importance on this topic and recommended that the Government should formally adopt a National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement focused on optimising the number of start-up businesses, and in particular, on maximising the number of start-ups aspiring to, and achieving high growth. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the responsible lead Department for the creation of such a Statement. My Department has not been involved to date in the creation of this National Entrepreneurship Policy Statement. I understand that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently finalising this Policy Statement and I would anticipate being consulted on issues relating to entrepreneurship in the education system in the Statement.

One of the principles underpinning the Primary School Curriculum is that the child's higher order thinking and problem solving skills are developed. Through the curriculum the child is encouraged to observe, to ask relevant questions, to recognise the essence of a problem, to suggest solutions and to make informed judgements. These skills are fundamental to engendering enterprise in our young people. At junior cycle, the foundation for enterprise is promoted by ensuring that students follow a broad and balanced programme which features an appropriate mix of skills, including communications, personal effectiveness, ICT, languages, and a range of academic and vocational options.

In senior cycle students taking the Transition Year option, the Leaving Certificate Vocational programme and the Leaving Certificate Applied are provided with specific opportunities to acquire enterprise skills. These programmes place a strong focus on action learning, community-based approaches, personal development and teamwork. Students also engage in work experience. Typically, Transition Year students engage in mini-company activities whereby they plan, develop and manage a mini enterprise or organise a major event such as a trade fair or fashion show. Teamwork, multi-disciplinary learning, interpersonal and communications skills, planning, evaluation, and mastery of business concepts are all part of this process. Approximately, 28,000 students take the Transition Year annually.

The Link Modules within the Leaving Certificate Vocational programme comprise Enterprise Education and Preparation for the World of Work. These are assessed as part of the certificate examinations and the results can be used for CAO points purposes. In 2007, the Link Modules were taken by 14,080 candidates. The Tasks carried out by students taking the Leaving Certificate Applied to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired are also assessed as part of the certificate examinations, and 3,056 students sat the Leaving certificate Applied in 2007.

The Leaving Certificate Business syllabus has a strong focus on enterprise. The syllabus covers marketing and starting a business, the domestic and international environment, handling conflict, enterprise skills and their application to different situations. In 2007, Leaving Certificate Business was taken by 18,957 candidates.