Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange for funding for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 5 to extend the design and communication graphics course through into fifth year as has been agreed by his Department. [40621/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The syllabus for the Leaving Certificate Technical Drawing was revised by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The name of the subject was changed to Design and Communications Graphics and the new subject was introduced in September 2007, into a number of selected Post-Primary schools, for examination for the first time by the State Exams Commission (SEC) in June 2009.

When schools were initially assessed for the new syllabus, this school did not have a cohort of pupils at Leaving Certificate in September 2007 to whom the new Design and Communications Graphics course could be offered. In these circumstances the school was not considered for the first phase of introduction of the new syllabus.

My Department has very recently received an application from the school in question seeking funding to introduce the new course from September 2009. The extension of this syllabus into further schools, including this school, will be considered for funding early in the new year and the school informed of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

The Department is also currently consulting extensively on the development of an intercultural education strategy which is to be finalised in 2009. The research work findings and the responses to the consultation process will provide the evidence based data required to prepare the strategy.