Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

The significant body of work being done with the inclusion of the TUI, the ASTI and all the representative groups is to make sure we produce the best leaving certificate possible to support students in the best way. We are not introducing 100% additional assessment components. There will still be, for the vast majority, 60% of an exam, which is still stressful enough but obviously it is not 100%. Twenty-eight subjects already have additional assessment components, so we are already grappling with AI. It is here and we need to make sure we are working with it, that we are understanding it and that we do not prevent change from happening because we do not know what will happen this time next year.

As to the request for a pause for a year, the technology we might have this time next year has not even been created yet. That is how quickly technology is moving. We cannot pause change because we are not sure what is coming down the tracks, but we do have to acknowledge it is a challenge. It is new, it is different. We need to make sure students are prepared for it and that they are learning and not just using technology that is not helping them. If we take a step back and look at what we are preparing young people for, it is not just the world but also working life. Companies and businesses with new ways of doing business are saying technology is part and parcel. It is going to be there, so we need to work with students in that regard. I fully accept we need to support teachers in this 100% along the way. Work is under way to make sure we have even more guidance and support. As this is rolled out, the AI advisory council will really help in that regard.

See this speech in context