Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which the primary and second level school curriculum continues to focus on the need to cater for the requirements of modern commerce and industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2914/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Framework for Junior Cycle which is to be implemented from 2014, acknowledges the key role of entrepreneurship. In its principles the framework highlights the role of "creativity and innovation". There are 24 statements of learning which specify what students should know, understand, value and be able to do at the end of junior cycle. A number of the statements are relevant to enterprise but one in particular emphasises that the students "should take initiative, be innovative and develop entrepreneurial skills".

In senior cycle, there are opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills through, for example, the Leaving Certificate Business Studies course or through participation in the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Links modules and in the Leaving Certificate Applied. For Transition Year students there is the opportunity to participate in the Sean Lemass Awards that include the Transition Year Mini Company and its "Get up and Go" competition and the County/ City Enterprise Board "Student Enterprise " Competition. In 2013, almost 16,000 students participated in the Student Enterprise competitions.

Literacy and numeracy are among the most important life skills that our schools teach. No child should leave school without having mastered these skills to the best of their abilities. Literacy and numeracy skills are crucial to a person's ability to develop fully as an individual, to live a satisfying and rewarding life and to participate fully in our society. The Programme for Government makes clear that the Government is determined that all young people will leave school able to read, communicate orally, in writing and in digital media, and able to understand and use mathematics in their everyday lives and in further learning. Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life sets out how we will work to achieve these crucially important goals over the period to 2020. It sets ambitious targets and describes the actions that we must take to improve the teaching and learning of literacy and numeracy. I am committed to our young people developing entrepreneurial skills and a number of initiatives, as noted above, are in place to make this a reality.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the transition year programme continues to be used in a way to give opportunities to the student to gain useful experience likely to positively impact on the decision in respect of their career choice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2915/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are currently a significant number of initiatives which support enterprise in schools.

In senior cycle students taking not only the Transition Year option but also the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Applied are provided with specific opportunities to acquire enterprise skills. These programmes place a strong focus on active learning, community-based approaches, personal development and teamwork. Students also engage in work experience. In addition, enterprise is part of the Business syllabus in second level schools.

For Transition Year students there is the opportunity to participate in the Sean Lemass Awards that jointly include the Transition Year Mini Company and its "Get up and Go" competition along with the County/ City Enterprise Board "Student Enterprise " Competition. In 2013, almost 16,000 students participated in the Student Enterprise competition.

I am committed to our young people developing entrepreneurial skills and a number of initiatives, as noted above, are in place to make this a reality. I am also emphasising the role of enterprise in the Junior Cycle by seeking to ensure that each student "takes initiative, is innovative and develops entrepreneurial skills".