Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount which will be specifically allocated in 2017 to teaching coding in primary and post-primary schools. [41007/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Exact expenditure figures regarding the teaching of coding in schools are not available, as funding is not allocated by my Department on a subject by subject basis. However, work is taking place at both primary and post-primary levels on coding.

In 2017, 5,800 teachers were provided with ICT training, to include coding, by the Professional Development Service for Teachers - Technology in Education (PDST - TIE).PDST-TIE promotes and supports the integration of ICT in teaching and learning in primary and post-primary schools. In addition 239 ICT tutors were trained. 

Primary

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently in the process of developing a new primary mathematics curriculum to include computational thinking (including coding), and flexible and creative thinking skills. 

Junior Cycle

The NCCA has developed a short course on Coding which is available to schools for their Junior Cycle programme on an optional basis. The course looks to build on any coding skills that primary students might have experienced while offering insight into possible future studies in computer science and software engineering. Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) is my Department’s support service providing continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for teachers to support the implementation of Junior Cycle reform. The JCT will provide CPD in relation to the Coding short course in 2017.

Senior Cycle

The NCCA was requested by my Department to examine the introduction Computer Science in schools from September 2019. In this context, the NCCA has initially commissioned a scoping/research study looking at provision for computer science in a number of countries. The report of the study will be published in the New Year. A public consultation process, is planned for early in 2017. 

As part of the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020, €210m will be distributed to schools for the purchase of ICT Infrastructure to support the implementation of ICT in the curriculum commencing with €30m in the first half of 2017. 

Furthermore, on top of all these initiatives, a large number of schools are running voluntary coding programmes through initiatives such as Coder Dojo (over 200 dojos in Ireland), Hour of Code where over 200 events took place in Ireland and the  annual computer programming olympiad held at Dublin City University.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in 2017 which will be providing coding courses and at which levels. [41008/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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At Junior Cycle level the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed a short course on Coding which is available to schools for their Junior Cycle programme on an optional basis. The course looks to build on coding skills that primary students might have experienced while offering insight into possible future studies in computer science and software engineering. Exact figures are not currently available regarding take-up of this course.

'Exploring Coding' is a collaborative initiative designed to support schools and teachers in their inclusion of the Junior Cycle short course in Coding. 22 schools were chosen from over 120 entries to participate in this initiative. During the year-long pilot, participating teachers participate in five Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events to share current practice and explore the new short course, contribute to an online community of participating teachers and share their experiences with the JCT short courses team. Further information is available at the following link: 

At Senior Cycle my Department's Action Plan for Education contains a commitment to developing a subject specification for Leaving Certificate computer science which will help to harness and develop student interest in this strategically important discipline. In this regard the NCCA was requested by my Department to examine the introduction of a Leaving Certificate Computer Science subject, with a view to introducing this subject in schools from September 2019. In this context, the NCCA has commissioned a scoping/research study looking at provision for computer science in a number of countries. The report of the study will be published in the New Year. A public consultation process is planned for early in 2017. 

At primary level the NCCA is in the process of developing a new primary mathematics curriculum.  Following the Minister's request to consider how children’s computational, flexible and creative thinking skills might be developed through this new mathematics curriculum, and how coding might be integrated in the wider primary curriculum, the NCCA is reviewing curriculum policy and practice in other jurisdictions in terms of these areas of children's education at primary level.

The PDST Technology in Education provide training for both primary and post primary teachers in ICT which includes 'Scratch' coding.  5,800 teachers received ICT training in 2016.

Furthermore, on top of all these initiatives, a large number of schools are running voluntary coding programmes through initiatives such as Coder Dojo (over 200 dojos in Ireland),  Hour of Code where over 200 events took place in Ireland and the  annual computer programming olympiad held at Dublin City University.