Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the Department of the Taoiseach's strategy statement commitment on the Action Plan for Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49419/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of the Taoiseach’s Strategy Statement 2016-2019 is committed to lead and support whole-of-government structures to drive and monitor implementation of key policies, strategies and initiatives. These will include the Action Plan for Education, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures and targeted new initiatives that have both local and national benefits for citizens.

In September 2016, I launched the first Action Plan for Education, covering the period 2016-2019. This sets out our ambition to make the Irish education and training service the best in Europe by 2026.

The Action Planning process recognises that our success will be achieved by the implementation of hundreds of actions across the sector in its entirety.

The Action Plan 2016-2019 was the beginning of an annual process. More detailed actions, with quarterly delivery dates, are identified in updated annual plans. These Plans are based on the original five high-level goals:

1. Improve the learning experience and the success of learners

2. Improve the progress of learners at risk of educational disadvantage or learners with special educational needs

3. Help those delivering education services to continually improve

4. Build stronger bridges between education and the wider community

5. Improve national planning and support services

Progress is monitored through the publication of End of Year Review reports and quarterly progress reports. All of these are available on the Department’s website (www.education.ie) and show the extent to which we are delivering what we said we would. They also help to ensure that attention is focused on areas where progress has not been as expected, in order to drive further change.

In addition, we are currently working on developing a range of indicators, based on national and international benchmarks, to enhance our monitoring arrangements.

Cumulatively, the Action Plans and monitoring process will ensure that we achieve our ambition of having the best education and training services in Europe by 2026.