Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.

The Programme for Government commits to establishing a Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education ensuring that the voices of young people and those being educated are central.

The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use recently held its final meeting and the final report from this assembly is scheduled to be published in due course.

The establishment of the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education and its Terms of Reference will be the subject of a Government decision and resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad at the appropriate time. Citizens’ Assemblies operate independently of the Government with secretariat support provided by the Department of the Taoiseach.

My 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 also states that the voices of young people and those being educated will be central to this Assembly. The impact that children and young people have on shaping their own learning experiences is a focus of the work of my Department.

I strongly support the meaningful participation of children and young people in this process.

Further to any Government decision and resolutions of the Dáil and Seanad regarding the Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education, officials from my Department will provide appropriate information and support as may be requested by the Assembly.

We will also continue to listen carefully to the views of parents, teachers, school leaders and all those in school communities who help shape our education system.