Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2017
185. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of all funding allocated to his Department over the past ten years in order to implement curriculum reform, either current or capital; the amount spent and details of the projects on which it was spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9252/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding in my Department to support curriculum reform varies from year to year and is spread across a number of areas of the Department’s expenditure allocation. The breakdown of information requested by the Deputy in respect of the last ten years is not readily available and would take an inordinate amount of time to compile.
However, I can advise the Deputy regarding certain key elements of expenditure in relation to the curriculum development and reform process in my Department. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is the body with statutory responsibility for advising me on curriculum reform, from early childhood to the end of second level. Over the past 10 years the NCCA have systematically revised these curricula subject by subject and this work continues. Currently the structure and time allocation at primary level is being reviewed by the NCCA. At post primary level the reform of the Junior Cycle is underway and work is also being carried out on a number of subjects at Senior Cycle, as well as an overall review of senior cycle programmes. Further curricular resources are also being developed in relation to early years education.
The expenditure by the NCCA over the past ten years is as follows:
|
NCCA |
Expenditure €m |
|
2007 |
3.848 |
|
2008 |
4.749 |
|
2009 |
4.637 |
|
2010 |
3.837 |
|
2011 |
3.447 |
|
2012 |
3.225 |
|
2013 |
4.162 |
|
2014 |
4.441 |
|
2015 |
4.341 |
|
2016 |
4.664 |
A further significant funding element in relation to curriculum reform arises in the form of continuous professional development (CPD) to support the implementation of revised curricula.
The costs to my Department of providing CPD in support of curriculum reform over the past seven years are as follows:
|
Continuous Professional Development |
Expenditure €m |
|
2010 |
29.381 |
|
2011 |
29.591 |
|
2012 |
29.385 |
|
2013 |
28.873 |
|
2014 |
30.288 |
|
2015 |
31.049 |
|
2016 |
35.170 |
