Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to hear that such progress has been made. I hope the resources will be put in place. If the review of the CSPE project shows that the subject will be an optional subject, will a whole cohort of young people be disenfranchised? Citizenship should be taken seriously. The current emphasis is on the STEM subjects but the kinds of skills required in pursuing a course like politics and society such as open-mindedness, reflectiveness, problem-solving, are integral to driving an economy and we should train our young people to do that. In most advanced democracies such as America, France and the UK, low voter turnout among young people is a particular concern. We should act because the date of 23 May is looming large. I note the young people in the Visitors Gallery who I am delighted to see here but many people have never had the option of coming to visit the Dáil. For example, the day I was elected was the first time I was ever here and I do not think that should happen. I think I should get in here again but I will not be repeating my first day.

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