Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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180. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will introduce the newly drafted architectural technology syllabus to the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47696/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Revised Leaving Certificate syllabi were submitted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in relation to the four Leaving Certificate technology subjects in 2004. Two of these subjects, Technology and Design and Graphic Communications were introduced in September 2007. The remaining two subjects, Leaving Certificate Engineering Technology and Architectural Technology are awaiting implementation.

Both subjects require significant investment in equipment and professional development for teachers, and the resources for this are not available at the current time, consequently it is necessary to prioritise. The major priorities for the present government are to reform junior cycle provision to allow for greater creativity and innovation, embedding key skills and addressing curriculum overload, to proceed with the Maths and Irish reforms which are under way, to strengthen literacy and numeracy and to implement the revised science curricula in Physics, Chemistry and Biology at senior cycle.

I would hope to implement the revised Leaving Certificate Engineering Technology and Architectural Technology curricula as soon as possible, however, it is also important to move at a pace commensurate with the capacity of the system to change.