The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. today (Friday 2 August) announced the publication of the Action Plan for Education 2019 Quarter 2 Progress Report.

The Action Plan – Cumasú emphasises empowering through learning. It highlights the significant strategic reform programme under way in the education and training sector. This enables the Department to respond in an agile way to the demands of today’s society at the same time as maintaining a focus on sustainable, carefully paced reform, in order to empower learners.

Progress during the year is monitored through published quarterly reports, ensuring transparency. Today’s publication is the second such report for 2019, following the publication in April of the first progress report. The quarter 2 report shows the progress made on the 51 actions due for delivery over the last few months. It provides details on achievements and an update on actions where significant progress has been made, but where it has been necessary to adjust the target date. Overall, it shows that progress is being made towards achieving the Department’s high level goals, which together will help to empower through learning.

Commenting on today’s publication, Minister McHugh said: “I’m pleased to see the progress we’re making across the sector in achieving our strategic goals.

“By working towards what we set out in the Action Plan for Education 2019 we are continuing to respond to the needs of learners and providers, raise aspirations, building on existing links and relationships and put the right systems in place to really empower through education and training.

“This will benefit not only individuals but our wider society and so I think it’s important to mark the progress we’re making in this regard.”

A total of 38 actions have been achieved (a completion rate of 75%), including: