Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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624. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether she is aware of reports that AI tools are having a detrimental impact on education and learning (details supplied); and whether she will consider a ban on such tools in school settings, in order to maximise student capabilities in the long run. [24475/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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While AI has the potential to enhance education and inclusion, there are also risks and challenges with its use. As an evolving and emerging technology, it is important that the response and guidance is evidence informed and sufficiently robust. As highlighted in the AI Strategy, ‘AI Here for Good’, it is important that teachers and school leaders understand the strength and limitations of AI but also address the ethical considerations and risks involved. Education and training have a key role to play in ensuring that where AI is used, it is done so effectively and ethically and in line with data privacy legislation, regulations and guidelines. There is a need to support careful consideration about the use of AI in all aspects of teaching, learning and assessment, and that teachers and school leaders have the necessary resources and skills to support them as autonomous professionals.

The Department, with the support of the Technology in Education area within Oide, the support service for teachers and school leaders, is currently finalising guidance on the use of AI in teaching and learning. This will support teachers to mediate AI in education in teaching and learning. It will provide information on the opportunities and risks associated with AI and highlight what should be taken into consideration so that if AI is to be used, it is in a safe, responsible and ethical manner. The Department is also examining what other Member States are doing in this space, however there is a general consensus that it is important that children and young people are equipped with relevant and appropriate knowledge on AI, and our education system is key to building foundational digital literacy in this area. To best support that, schools and teachers should be enabled to also develop their knowledge and understanding of AI, and that is central to the Department's approach. The reality is that AI is a current tool, in broad use, and it is important that this is acknowledged and addressed.

Ongoing research, EU and national regulatory changes, and insights from Coimisiún na Meán will continue to guide the Department's efforts to assist schools and teachers in navigating the challenges and opportunities AI brings to education. On that basis, the Guidance will be reviewed regularly including capturing feedback from the system, and updated as appropriate to best support schools and teachers.

It is worth noting that other education systems are not banning AI in schools. Also there is no obligation for schools and teachers to facilitate the use of AI and schools have flexibility through their digital learning planning to consider how best to provide for the use of digital technologies in accordance with their context and requirements. Extensive information and support for school leaders and teachers on AI in education can be found on the Oide TiE website at 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, an online course on AI and the UNESCO Guidance for generative AI in education and research.

In order to support the Department and to inform future policy in this area, formal approval has issued from the EU Commission for a multi-country Technical Support Instrument (TSI) Project Futureproof Education: Supporting schools in the AI evolution with six partners, including Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Germany (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Luxembourg and Sweden. The TSI is an EU programme that provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU Member States to design and implement reforms through projects approved for the instrument. The support is demand driven and does not require co-financing from Member States and offers supports in helping tackle reform challenges. It does not come in the form of financial support but consists of the provision of high quality and tailored expertise and knowledge, with that provision funded by the Commission. The project will be implemented by UNESCO, in cooperation with the European Commission, over a period of 24 months (mid-2025-mid-2027). The overall objective is to ensure a common understanding on the implementation of responsible AI in education, in an evidence-informed manner. Some of the outputs associated with the project include an analytical report on the meaningful and safe integration of AI, a review of regulations, curricula and strategies which include a mapping process as to how AI can best be integrated, toolkits for teachers and school leaders and specific use cases.