Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I completely agree with the Deputy. We are living in a much-changed and very different world now and it is important that we have an agile workforce. It is also important that we have students who are well informed and capable of living safely in this world.

I want to be clear that there are a number of initiatives under way, while we are talking about the redevelopment of the primary school curriculum, and equally so of SPHE at post-primary level. Significant resources in the interim are being made available to our staff specifically in respect of cyber bullying and online safety. Equally the PDST has a very strong continuing professional development, CPD, roll-out into our schools to support our staff. We also have the digital strategy for our schools which sets out the policy of the Department of Education on the effective use of digital technologies and teaching learning and assessment. The key action under the strategy is the promotion of the responsible and ethical use of the Internet and related technologies. That all feeds into practice within our schools.

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