Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has considered the submission made by the Irish Human Rights Commission on the issue of civic, social and political education; if the subject will remain a compulsory state examination subject in the new junior certificate curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38122/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The submission made by the Irish Human Rights Commission will be included in the decision making process for Junior Cycle reform. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment provided its advice to me on Junior Cycle Reform in November 2011. Within that advice is the specification of 24 statements of learning which junior cycle students should learn. Included among these statements are a number that have a human rights perspective. For example, the students will "value what it means to be an active citizen, with rights and responsibilities in local and wider contexts". Since November 2011, consideration has been ongoing in relation to the implementation of junior cycle reform and I expect to complete this process in the near future. Therefore no decision has yet been made regarding specific subjects.