Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the election process of proportional representation is covered under the CPSE curriculum in the junior cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26972/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In Junior Cycle, the Civil, Social and Political Education (CSPE) short course, which was updated in 2021, contributes to building the skills students need to contribute positively to a democratic society and to promote sustainable living.

CSPE gives students an understanding of social, economic and political structures at local, national and global levels and the opportunity to imagine and create ways in which they can make a difference to the lives of individuals and communities. It consists of three Strands: ‘Rights and Responsibilities’, ‘Global Citizenship’, and ‘Exploring Democracy’. There is the opportunity to cover electoral systems, particularly the proportional representation system, in the learning outcomes of the ‘the meaning of democracy’ section of the ‘Exploring Democracy’ strand.

Collaborative and active learning and the development of skills in citizenship, research, reflection and action are integrated across each of the three strands. A range of suggested actions, of varying degrees of challenge, are suggested at the end of each strand and it is also possible for teachers and students to decide on other relevant action(s). It is expected that students will engage in action as part of their learning in each of the three strands.

One of the suggested actions explicitly provided in the CSPE specification, available on curriculumonline.ie, is for students to “participate in an election count using the PR voting system. Compare the PR system with one other system of voting.” This action, along with other actions which may tie into the learning outcomes, provides the room for discussion and greater understanding of the electoral system, including the process of proportional representation.