Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
474. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which her Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25745/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious policy agenda that concerns all Government Departments.
The first National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, set out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. The Goals are mainstreamed in domestic policy and the governance structure reflects a whole-of-government approach and ensures coordination and coherence, in particular where goals cover areas of shared responsibility.
19 Actions were included in the first National Implementation Plan. Action 4 of the plan set out a commitment to include reference in all new Statements of Strategy to all SDG targets for which a Department has lead responsibility.
The development of the next SDG Implementation Plan has commenced, with the intention of publication later this year. A National Progress report will be incorporated into the Plan and will assess the progress on the 19 Actions, including the commitment set out under Action 4.
I can advise the Deputy that the Department of Education’s commitment to contributing to the national effort to implement the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals will be referenced in our new Statement of Strategy. Over the lifetime of the new Statement of Strategy, the Department will continue to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and in particular to SDG 4 – Quality Education “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” as outlined in the SDG National Implementation Plan. The Department is represented on the SDG National Implementation Plan Senior Officials Group and Interdepartmental Working Group.
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) – SDG4 target 4.7 is both a target in itself and is also a key enabler to achieving all 17 SDGs. On Earth Day (22ndApril), the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and I launched a public consultation for a new joint National Strategy on ESD to 2030. ESD to 2030 will build on the work already done in this area under the National Strategy for ESD 2014 – 2020 such as the integration of sustainable development themes and principles across the curriculum from Early Years to Higher Education, into the school inspection and state examinations processes and into Initial Teacher Education and Teacher CPD.
ESD to 2030 will be aligned to UNESCOs Framework for ESD for 2030 which sets out the five priority areas as
- Advancing Policy and Policy Coherence,
- Education and Training: Transforming Learning Environments,
- Capacity Building for Educators and Trainers,
- Empowering and mobilising Youth and
- Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level and engaging with the wider community.
The public consultation will remain open until the 30th June and both Departments will continue to engage with key stakeholders including the school community into the early autumn with a view to publishing a new strategy for ESD to 2030 in early 2022.
