Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the concerns raised by school leaders in relation to the accelerated roll-out of senior cycle reform; if she accepts that the accelerated timeline does not allow enough time for essential preparations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8924/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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As this is the first ministerial questions session, I wish the Minister and Minister of State the best of luck in their roles. This is a very important time and I hope we can make progress.

Is the Minister aware of the concerns raised by school leaders with regard to the accelerated roll-out of senior cycle reform, if she accepts that the accelerated timeline does not allow enough time for essential preparations and if she will make a statement on the matter?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I look forward to working with all colleagues, particularly in this area. I thank the Deputy for asking this question as it is an important and live issue, in particular for students who will sit the leaving certificate in the years ahead. It is for this reason that, in the last few weeks, I have met nearly all the unions and representative bodies representing teachers, principals, schools in general, boards of management, parents and, importantly, students. These conversations were not just about senior cycle reform. What was clear when it came to senior cycle reform is that we are all on the same page and want to ensure we have a senior cycle that is modern, fit for purpose and, above all, prepares our young people for the world we live in today.

What is also clear and what we all agree on is that we need to support our teachers and schools in rolling out that programme. I am absolutely committed to continuing the programme of reform of senior cycle to ensure that students benefit from up-to-date curriculums, more diverse skills development and assessments and that we also reduce stress levels. I am also absolutely committed to working with schools, school leaders and teachers in that regard.

The world is changing rapidly and it is essential for all of us to properly equip students to succeed in this changing world. The approach to senior cycle redevelopment is about collaboration and engagement with our stakeholders and partners in education to try to deliver this. That engagement commenced back in 2016 and there has been detailed engagement and consultation since then. In 2023, it was announced that the first tranche of two new subjects and seven revised subjects would be introduced in schools in September of this year. Therefore, the first class taking these new and updated subjects will complete their leaving certificate in 2027.

The introduction of the new assessment models will help students to develop new skills and reduce the amount of pressure on students. This builds on what is already in place across 28 of the 40 curricular leaving certificate subjects. This is not new when it comes to the additional assessment component but we are trying to modernise and ensure that it applies to the vast majority of subjects.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the fact that the Minister has met stakeholders. It is important that she meets all of the stakeholders in the sector at the earliest opportunity. If she has met them, she must surely have heard their concerns. I have not heard that reflected in her response thus far but they will have detailed them to her. They relate to a range of areas, principally capacity and preparedness, whether in terms of the development of curriculums, the readiness of schools in terms of IT, laboratories and the capacity to take on these changes. The Minister said there is a commitment, as I believe there is, to make this happen in the right way but that takes time and capacity. Is she hearing that from the stakeholders and, if so, how is she responding?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I think our stakeholders have outlined a number of things clearly. First, they want to ensure teachers feel appropriately trained and equipped because they want to ensure they are giving their best and students get the best outcomes. A number of training programmes have been developed and delivered already and my intention is to try to intensify that and provide even more supports and resources for teachers.

Second, it is about ensuring schools and equipment, particularly for the science subjects, are up to speed. While schools have been given a science implementation support grant, which means that some schools are getting funding ranging from €13,000 to €24,000, with our DEIS schools receiving an additional 10% uplift, I am looking to see if we can provide more to ensure our schools have the equipment they need. We have other programmes, in particular drama, film and theatre studies, where schools have to get cameras, lighting and audio, computer and staging equipment. All of these elements are being provided.

Third, there is an issue or concern around artificial intelligence. AI is here and the technology is here to stay but teachers want to know how to use it and incorporate it into how students are working, as well as how they should assess it. There is guidance in place but my Department is working with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, to ensure we have even more guidance prepared for our teachers.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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We have spent more time identifying those issues than on spelling out exactly what the timeline will be between now and September for teachers, in the main, and, related to that, for school communities, parents and, most important, students embarking on this new programme from September, if that is the timeline. That detail has to be spelled out to school communities and school leaders at the earliest possible opportunity. If that timeline is not there or there is no schedule to roll it out for this September, the pause button will need to be pressed. I am not convinced from what I have heard so far this morning that such a necessary and detailed plan is there or that a plan for its implementation is in place. If it is not going to be ready, there is a real and continuing risk that this is going to be a very negative experience for all concerned.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The most important thing here is that students benefit from the updated curriculums. In order to support teachers, I have asked my Department to intensify engagement. There are meetings happening on a weekly, if not biweekly, basis to ensure we look at how we can provide more and additional training, to ask if more resources need to be provided, to look at how we ensure that clear guidance is in place when it comes to AI and, above all, to ensure that teachers, principals, schools and, in particular, students are supported to avail of what I believe will be a very important transformation for them. There will also be the publication of papers at the beginning of April. Exam papers are usually printed the year before. In this case, it will be done two years before the exams and there will be four papers for each subject, two papers at each level, in Gaeilge and Béarla. This means there will be 72 papers published. It is very important to show the type of exams, projects and assessments that will be coming down the line also. I am absolutely committed to supporting schools, school leaders, teachers and students to ensure they get the best out of this and are as prepared as they can be. This is a very important reform, as we all agree.