Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had discussions with the Department Education and Science regarding the need for an energy related module available to third level humanities students here; if not, his views on whether this is required in order to progress awareness of energy related issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3432/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Raising awareness across society of energy related issues is a key factor in facilitating the substantive behavioural change that is required of us all to ensure a sustainable energy future. My Department and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) have undertaken a number of publicity programmes in this regard.

I believe that a number of our third level institutions have introduced modular programmes which introduce energy policy issues to a wide range of undergraduate courses. I am very supportive of such an approach but as the development of curricula for third level programmes of study is a matter for the Academic Councils of the individual institutions concerned, it is not a matter in which I have had any discussions with the Minister for Education and Science.