Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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347. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the proliferation of non-curricular publications from Irish and international private interests (details supplied) seeking to target primary school children; the action she plans to take to protect the integrity of the education system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41702/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current policy within the Department of Education is to not endorse any particular product, programme, or publication. The Department of Education does not have a role in approving, commissioning, sponsoring or endorsing any content in any private programme delivered in schools.

The requirement from my Department, is that schools follow the curriculum as set out by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). Additional resources may be used in order to enhance a school’s delivery of this curriculum, however that is a decision that rests entirely within the school itself. Our schools have the autonomy to determine the resources that they use, should they wish to use any. Teachers and principals are best placed to determine the suitability of a resource for the children that they teach.