John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will report on the progress to date of his Department's steering group that was set up to develop and oversee an implementation plan for leaving certificate computer science with a view to commence introduction in schools from September 2018; the group's findings in terms of cost of infrastructure and equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3269/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am delighted to be able to introduce Computer Science as a new optional Leaving Certificate subject. A Computer Science Steering Group, chaired by my Department, has met on six occasions to date and is overseeing an implementation plan for the new specification. 40 schools have been selected for Phase 1 implementation of the new subject from September of this year. My Department's Teacher Education support services will be working closely with these schools to prepare for the subject's introduction.

One of the aims of the phase 1 implementation of the subject will be to assist in ascertaining the likely typical costs in schools of introducing the subject, including infrastructure and equipment costs, as well as the requirement for physical space needed to accommodate students, computers and group work. At this stage it is known that there are likely to be some one-off IT network-related funding requirement for schools. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has also been identifying the likely minimum requirements for computers/laptops for implementation of the new specification, in terms, for example, of processor size, memory capacity and storage. It is expected that the details of these likely costs will crystallise over the period ahead.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans to introduce computer coding at primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3270/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently developing a new primary mathematics curriculum which will include elements of creative and computational thinking, which underpin coding and computer science. The NCCA will also be working with a network of schools during this school year to explore different approaches to integrating coding in the primary curriculum.

The Deputy may also be aware of developments regarding coding and computer science at post-primary level. I am introducing Computer Science as a new optional Leaving Certificate subject. 40 schools were selected for Phase 1 implementation of the new subject from September of this year. At Junior Cycle, schools are now able at Junior Cycle to offer a coding short course as part of their junior cycle programme.