Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how her Department is supporting second-level schools to prepare students for rapid technological advances, such as artificial intelligence and digital literacy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17204/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The existing curriculum at primary and post primary level offers multiple opportunities for the development of digital skills and digital literacy. Reforms and updates are underway within the curriculum at all levels which will further ensure that our children and young people are equipped with the necessary digital skills and literacy required to participate fully in society.

Ireland’s Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033 was published in May 2024 for all learners from early learning and care settings to post-primary school and includes a focus on strengthening digital literacy among learners and educators, with specific actions to support the further development of digital literacy.

The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 and its associated Implementation Plan set out the Departments policy on embedding the use of digital technology in teaching and learning. Pillar 3 of the Strategy sets out the commitment to consider and take account of emerging trends in the area of digital technologies in education and to develop appropriate and relevant guidance when required.

To this end the Department of Education with the support of Oide Technology in Education, is currently developing guidance on the use of AI in teaching and learning. It is intended that this guidance will be published and circulated to schools shortly.

The guidance will provide information on the opportunities and risks associated with the use of AI and highlight what should be taken into consideration to inform schools and teachers on AI in education, and when considering the use of AI, to do so in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

Currently, information for schools on AI in education can be found on the OIDE Technology in Education (OIDE TiE) website on their dedicated AI hub. This includes resources developed through participation by OIDE-TiE in an EU project, AI4T, the EU Ethical Guidelines for Using AI in Teaching & Learning, and the UNESCO Guidance for generative AI in education and research. OIDE-TiE will continue to develop resources to support teachers, and teachers already engage with such professional learning supports as part of their ongoing teaching practice.