Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
857. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which Ireland's commitment to the sustainable development goals will be reflected in the Strategy and Work Plan 2020-2025 of his Department; the way in which progress towards achieving the goals will be monitored and reported annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21742/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits my Department to continuing to work towards the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aimed at ending poverty, reducing inequality, and tackling climate change.
As set out in the SDG National Implementation Plan, a range of Department strategies will contribute to delivering Agenda 2030 including the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, the National Skills Strategy 2025, the Further Education and Training Strategy and the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education.
In particular, I recognise the role of high-quality research emerging through national funding agencies and programmes, such as SFI, IRC, HRB and PRTLI, in addressing societal challenges and advancing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
An interim review of the National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development 2014- 2020 sets out the achievements to date including those under priority area 5 for Further Education and Training and under priority area 6 for Higher Education and Research: www.education.ie/en/Publications/Education-Reports/esd-interim-review-action-plan-2018-2020.pdf.
The Department of Climate Action and Communications Networks have responsibility for reporting to the United Nations on Ireland’s progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Ireland’s first Voluntary National Review was presented to the UNs High Level Political Forum in July 2018: www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/environment/topics/sustainable-development/sustainable-development-goals/Pages/Voluntary-National-Review-2018.aspx.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has a central role in the identification, management, and presentation of the data needed for reporting on Ireland’s progress towards meeting its targets under the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The fourth in its series of reports on indicators for the SDGs, SDG 4 – quality education, was published on 19th August 2020:
www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-sdg4/irelandsunsdgs2019-reportonindicatorsforgoal4qualityeducation/.
[DL1]Relevant sections may have input here.
[DL2]Commitment in the PfG
