Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

Let me assure the Deputy that this is not being rushed. This issue has been discussed for ten years. It was agreed in 2023 that the first tranche would start in 2025. It is important that this proceeds. It will benefit our students and that is why we are doing it. Teachers agree with it, unions agree with it and students, who have come out very clearly in support of what is proposed, agree with it. Why is that the case? It is because it does not just focus on one day after the end of two years of study. If something goes wrong on that day, there is nowhere else to turn except to repeat the following year. What is proposed will be that we will assess different skills, expertise, abilities and capacities within our younger population and prepare them better for life.

On the measures the Deputy mentioned, I asked the unions to engage with me intensively on the issues that are of concern to them, the questions they had and, most importantly, the asks they had to help us make sure that this is a success. We all want it to be a success. The document that has been agreed deals with the asks from the unions. These are issues focusing on how we can implement more in our science labs and provide greater funding, how we can make sure that teachers have greater sight of the work they have to do in the years ahead and how to provide greater training. Many other issues are also addressed. These are all issues I have engaged intensively with the unions on. It is now a matter for them as to whether they accept what is proposed. I have tried to engage with them on everything they have sought and make sure that we provide the necessary resources and supports. Teachers really want this to work.

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