Dáil debates
Thursday, 12 June 2025
Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
State Examinations
3:45 am
Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source
I will take it back to what we are discussing, and that is leaving certificate reform. It is important to stress we are living through a period of rapid change and it is essential that we equip children and young people with the skills and competencies they need to succeed and thrive in a changing world. That is a central purpose of senior cycle redevelopment, which builds on junior cycle reform which started to roll out in 2014. Senior cycle redevelopment will also spread the assessment load on students by reducing the focus on high-stakes terminal examinations. Our students are engaged in them at the moment and we wish continued success to all of them.
The introduction of the first tranche of new and revised leaving certificate subjects will take place in September 2025 as previously announced. The approach taken to the redevelopment has always been about collaboration and meaningful engagement with all our stakeholders since this process commenced. Last Friday was only a few days ago, but a huge amount of engagement took place prior to any vote. From December 2024 until early April, my officials met with both unions to discuss senior cycle redevelopment. About eight meetings happened in that regard. In April, I invited the TUI and the ASTI to engage in intensive discussions with my Department to develop a package of supports which could assist schools, teachers and students during the roll-out of the new senior cycle. I had two other engagements with the unions and attended their convention and congress.
Following the six meetings, which were part of the package of supports discussions, my Department and the unions concluded talks with the publication of the measures which were voted on recently. The unions voted on the package of measures and, subsequently, whether industrial action would take place, depending on that outcome. In parallel my officials have engaged with representatives of school management bodies, whose voices helped to inform the above discussions, as well as representatives of school leaders. My officials regularly engage with student representatives, including the ISSU, which I have also met a number of times, and with parent representatives, including the National Parents Council. I have met that body as well. There is also the senior cycle redevelopment partners’ forum, which is chaired by former chief inspector, Dr. Harold Hislop, and is a representative stakeholder engagement group which underpins the necessary collaboration. All of these groups have been met significantly in the last while and that engagement will continue as we continue to roll this out.
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