Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
965. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the campaign by an organisation (details supplied) which calls on her Department to continue its investment in children and young people’s reading in Budget 2023. [43680/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1033. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the status of the establishment of a national advisory group on school library provision, as per recommendations 7 and 19 of the May 2022 report on Leaving Certificate reform by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; the terms of reference of the group; the membership of the group; the expected timeline for all primary and post-primary schools to have a school library, school librarian and full access to the school digital library service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44176/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 965 and 1033 together.
My aim for Budget 2023 is to continue to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Programme for Government and to continue to support the students, staff, and families in the education sector.
In the lead up to the Budget, my Department receives a number of pre-budget submissions from a number stakeholders in the education sector and from organisations involved in other areas of public policy. As in previous years, relevant submissions continue to be reviewed and they will inform the specific budgetary priorities that I will be seeking to achieve in Budget 2023.
The library project referred to is the Junior Cycle Schools Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project. A review of the JCSP is underway. Schools that currently offer the JCSP have been advised that they may continue to do so. While the review is ongoing, no new applications are currently being accepted from schools for entry to the JCSP.
Under the Programme for Government my Department was tasked with the development of a successor Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy. The strategy will be informed by robust research to include consideration of national and international practice, by extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation. It is intended that the new strategy would be published in 2023 and will run for ten years. This strategy will set the vision for the coming 10 years with recommendations/ actions to improve literacy and numeracy levels from early years to post-primary level.
