James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports her Department can provide for the further development of organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4672/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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ISSU was founded after the disbandment of the Union of Secondary Students of Ireland (USS) in 2008 and its primary objective is to contribute as a partner in education, to the advancement of second-level education of all second-level students.

In 2013, my Department agreed to provide funding on a year-to-year basis to the ISSU to help meet its day-to-day running costs. An annual budget of €40,000 was approved and in 2019, this budget was increased by more than 100% to €84,500 annually. This increased budget has enabled the ISSU to grow as an organisation

An important development in this area is the Education (Student and Parent Charter Bill) 2019 whihc has been passed by the Seanad and is currently progressing through the Dáil. The Bill will put in place legislative measures aimed at fostering a culture change in schools in terms of engagement with the whole school community: engagement with students, student councils, parents, parents associations and school staff.

The overall aim of this legislation is to improve the level of engagement between the school community by inviting feedback, comment and observations from the school community and by developing a listening culture in the school.