Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that offer the politics and society course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26141/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The roll-out of the new Leaving Certificate subject of Politics and Society commenced in 41 schools from September 2016, following an open invitation to introduce this as an optional Leaving Certificate subject. Politics and Society aims to develop the student's ability to be a reflective and active citizen, in a way that is informed by the insights and skills of social and political science. The introduction of the specification is part of my Department's commemoration of 1916 and its commitment to education for sustainable development. The subject will be available to all schools from September 2018.

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action taken to date in developing the computer science curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26142/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Education 2017 provides that the new subject of Leaving Certificate Computer Science will be implemented in schools from September 2018. The new subject specification is currently being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment through its subject development group for Computer Science. Phase 1 of the implementation process is scheduled to commence in September 2018 in a small number of schools, with the subject being available to all schools from September 2020.