Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way he intends safeguarding the status of history in the proposed new junior cycle; the role of the History Teachers' Association of Ireland in this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47666/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In the new Junior Cycle all students will be expected to achieve 24 statements of learning over the period of their Junior cycle. These include valuing local, national and international heritage and understanding the importance of the relationship between past and current event and the forces that drive change and understanding the origins and impacts of social, economic and environmental aspects of the world around him or her. It is clear therefore that historical awareness skills will be necessary to achieve the required outcomes.

The revised Junior cycle history syllabus will be implemented in schools from September 2017. When work begins on revision of the history syllabus, interested groups, including the History Teachers Association of Ireland, will be consulted. In conclusion, I would emphasise that I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what is offered to the discretion of the school and of students having as broad a range of options to choose from as possible.