Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I have been asked by the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, to address this matter on her behalf and to update the House on the Department of Education's position as regards the citizens’ assembly on education.

The programme for Government committed to establishing four citizens’ assemblies on the topics of biodiversity loss, the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited to Dublin, matters relating to drugs use and the future of education. Three of these citizens’ assemblies have now been held. The citizens' assemblies on local government in Dublin and biodiversity loss have concluded their work and reports and recommendations have been submitted to the Oireachtas in line with their terms of reference. The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use recently held its final meeting and its final report is scheduled to be published in due course.

A further citizens’ assembly on the future of education, ensuring that the voices of young people and those being educated are central, is committed to in the programme for Government. It will be a matter for the Oireachtas to agree the timeline and terms of reference for that citizens’ assembly. Citizens’ assemblies operate independently of the Government, with secretariat support provided by the Department of the Taoiseach. To date, the Department of Education has not received confirmation from the Department of the Taoiseach that a decision about the establishment of, or timeline for, a citizens’ assembly on the future of education has been made. However, to help ensure that the Department of Education is prepared for any announcement or decision regarding that assembly, officials have engaged in ongoing contact with the Department of the Taoiseach and ongoing discussion with key stakeholders across school communities on the programme for Government commitment, and will continue to do so.

The commitment in the programme for Government states that the voices of young people and those being educated will be central to the assembly. The impact that children and young people have on shaping their own learning experiences is a focus of the work of the Department of Education. The meaningful participation of children and young people in the process is strongly supported. The potential of a citizens' assembly on the future of education to enhance the ongoing consultative work of the Department of Education and aid future development and planning work is also recognised. Further to any Government decision and resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad regarding the citizens’ assembly, Department of Education officials will provide appropriate information and support as may be requested by the assembly. The views of parents, teachers, school leaders and all those in school communities who help shape our education system will also continue to be carefully listened to.

The commitment in the programme for Government to establish a citizens’ assembly on the future of education is welcome. It is understood that the establishment of this assembly will be the subject of a Government decision and resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad at the appropriate time.