Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the €5 million allocated to curriculum reform as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the allocation that has been spent; the way in which the funds were spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24300/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2018 made provision to support my Department's significant programme of curriculum reform, including the roll out of Junior Cycle Reform with Home Economics, History, Music, Geography and Mathematics commencing in September 2018.

€13 million of new and reallocated funding was provided to deliver continued implementation of Junior Cycle reform and delivery of a range of other curriculum reforms in areas such as implementation of the primary language curriculum and, at senior cycle level, politics & society, agricultural science, applied mathematics, physical education and computer science.

As funding is not allocated by my Department on a subject-by-subject basis, exact expenditure figures regarding individual subjects are not available.

Primary

The new Primary Language Curriculum (PLC) for junior infants to second class was implemented in primary schools in September 2016 with a focus on oral language. In the current school year, the focus is on reading and writing. Public consultation on the draft specification for third class to sixth class was recently completed, with a number of other consultation events held throughout the country.

The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is also currently working on the development of a new Primary Mathematics Curriculum (PMC). This work commenced in November 2014 and currently a public consultation on the draft specification from junior infants to second class is under way. As with the Primary Language Curriculum, this includes the NCCA working with a network of schools to try out aspects of the new specification.

Post-Primary

Implementation of the new Junior Cycle Framework is proceeding. Implementation commenced in September 2014 with the introduction of English, for first year students. Subjects are being introduced on a phased basis up to 2019 and are being supported by a comprehensive CPD programme for teachers. Science and Business Studies were introduced in September 2016, while Irish, Modern Languages and Visual Arts were introduced in September 2017, together with the new Wellbeing area of learning. Home Economics, History, Music, Geography and Mathematics are commencing in September 2018.

At senior cycle, delivery of CPD for schools participating in phase 2 of the new Leaving Certificate Politics and Society subject specification is underway, as well as schools participating in both Phase 1 of Leaving Certificate Computer Science and Physical Education and the Framework for Senior Cycle Physical Education.

Under my Department's Action Plan for Education 2018, a new Leaving Certificate Economics specification will be published, as well as finalised new specifications in Leaving Certificate Art, Applied Mathematics and Classical Studies.