Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of education provisions to meet the skill requirements in the areas of science and technology with particular reference to growing and competitive demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31993/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Action Plan for Education and the National Skills Strategy detail clear curriculum change and other commitments that will secure the step-change needed to equip learners with the skills necessary to participate in the modern economy.

In relation to Science and Technology I expect to publish shortly a STEM education policy statement and implementation plan which will detail actions to promote STEM at primary and post-primary levels. The Action Plan also details further curricular reform actions to assist access to jobs in the modern economy. These include the introduction of a new Leaving Certificate computer science subject from September 2018 and the development of a new primary mathematics curriculum which will support all children in the development of algorithmic and computational thinking which form the basis of coding.

As part of the Framework for Junior Cycle a new Science specification was introduced in September 2006, while the new Mathematics specification will be implemented from September 2018. A short course on coding is also in place.

I also recently announced an ambitious implementation plan to activate the Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. The plan contains a number of actions that will help realise the potential of digital technologies to enhance teaching, learning and assessment to help students become engaged thinkers, active learners, knowledge constructors and global citizens.