Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the citizens assembly on the future of education, which was promised in the Programme for Government, will be established; and when the terms of reference will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [29038/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education is of high importance to me and the Department of Education as is including the voice of children in the process.

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 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.

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 the Department of Education. The meaningful participation of children and young people in this process is extremely important, and has my support. The Citizens’ Assembly on the Future of Education has great potential to enhance the ongoing consultative work of my Department and aid future development and planning.