This week they began to put in place a pilot programme that will involve teaching a module on personal finance to 10 schools through the Leaving Cert Applied programme.

However their ambition is to have personal finance wholly integrated into the secondaryschool system where possible.

"Our ideal would be to have personal finance embedded in the school curriculum, " says Karen O'Leary, the deputy head of consumer information with the regulator. Whether it is through maths, business or social education.

"It's one of these things that everyone thinks is a good idea.

We have been engaging with the NCCA (National Council for Curriculum Assessment) who have been very positive with us.

"It is definitely a long-term goal, " she added.

Teaching is set to start on the subject on a voluntary basis from next month in 10 schools around Dublin and Kildare area.

The pilot follows on from a previous transition-year programme they carried out in Mayo with the Money Advice and Budgeting Service, which they are currently reviewing.

"If the pilots are successful we will be looking for a more nationwide approach to it. But these things take time.

Teachers and schools get bombarded with stuff. The school curriculum is already crowded, under pressure and everybody wants to get in on them.

The reality is we are just one group out of many that are looking to get involved, " said O'Leary.

The current pilot scheme is focused on giving children an understanding of how to compare different accounts and how to properly research.

"We feel we are pushing an open-door on this issue but we will be very patient about it.

The school curriculum is not something that can change overnight.

"We are looking at ways we can fit our current resources into it and give proper teaching support, " said O'Leary.