Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made to date in updating the junior certificate and leaving certificate cycles so that subjects such as politics and information technology will become part of both curriculums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37992/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment provided its advice to me on Junior Cycle Reform in late 2011. Since then, consideration has been ongoing in relation to the implementation of reform. Reform will be introduced on a phased basis. There will be a combination of curriculum components including subjects and short courses. Within their junior cycle experience, students will learn key skills and using ICT confidently across the curriculum is incorporated in the different skills areas. The introduction of short courses will allow schools the flexibility to offer courses in a wider range of areas, including politics and I.T., should they so wish.

Curriculum and assessment reform is well advanced in a number of senior cycle subject areas. It is not currently proposed to expand the range of subjects offered at senior cycle. In the current economic context, the priority is to progress and embed key reforms in Maths and the Physical Sciences. The curriculum in schools is devised on the basis that ICT is not a specific subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects at both junior and senior cycle. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an ICT framework which sets out a structured approach to ICT in curriculum and assessment. This sets out the types of learning appropriate for students during the period of compulsory education, and provides a guide to teachers for embedding ICT across the curriculum. Therefore, it is not time bound.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made to date in introducing some course work that will be examinable on a continuous assessment basis for the leaving certificate and junior certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37993/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In the context of JC reform the NCCA has advised that a portfolio with a weighting of 40% of the marks would be an inherent component of subjects in the revised Junior Certificate. I have accepted the NCCA's advise that a portfolio should be a key element of revised subjects. The implementation of this kind of assessment in the Junior Cycle is a considerable reform and the impact and outcomes of this will need to be considered before any changes are made in the high stakes Leaving Certificate examination.