Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department issued a statement to schools in February 2025 to disregard a purported circular; if there has been a problem with fake circulars; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14706/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department was notified of a document circulating that was being purporting to be a circular from the Department of Education on 27 February.

The fake circular was titled “Arrangements for making up days in light of school closures in primary schools for 2024/26 school year” and contained misinformation.

It was therefore of the utmost importance that my department counteract this immediately and a clarification was issued on 6pm that same evening. The quick response from my officials meant the misinformation didn’t not gain the traction it may have otherwise.

This was the first instance of this in the department.

The legitimacy of all Department of Education circulars can be confirmed by checking gov.ie/education