Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which the findings of a reassessment into the amount of time that is allocated to subjects in the Irish curriculum are to be published; his views on the disappointing results obtained by students in mathematics and science compared with other EU countries that has been attributed to the time that is spent studying those subjects [2682/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In December 2012 the most recent international results were published. These were PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) which involved pupils from 4 class in our primary schools.

In reading, Irish pupils were ranked 10 out of 45 participating countries. Ireland was placed 17 out of 50 participating countries in Maths and 22 out of the 50 participating countries in Science. I welcome the fact that Irish pupils are performing above average in all three tests and especially in reading. However, we cannot be complacent. In all three tests, pupils in a number of other countries are performing significantly better than the Irish pupils.

There are a number of initiatives currently underway to improve the quality of teaching and learning in our primary schools so as to ensure that the outcomes for our pupils continue to improve. These initiatives include my publication of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy in 2011, the introduction of Project Maths and the introduction of Standardised Testing at 2nd & 4th classes, and now I have also introduced them at 6th Class.

I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to provide advice on a recommended timeframe which should apply to each area of learning in the primary curriculum.