Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the policies, guidelines, and supports that are in place for third-level institutions and educators in relation to the effective and responsible integration of AI into teaching and assessment practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24546/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to note the launch last week of the Government’s new Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service by Minister Jack Chambers. The new guidelines support the public service to implement guardrails to ensure that the rights of the individual are safeguarded and will aim to positively impact any AI practices.

Key areas of focus by the HEA and QQI are outlined below.

Higher Education Authority (HEA)

The Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) fund, administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), is a key driver of innovation and capacity-building in Irish higher education.

A key area of current focus is the pedagogically robust, ethically informed, and strategically aligned adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education. SATLE funding has underpinned early-stage innovations, collaborative projects, and resource development that ensure AI integration enhances educational quality, safeguards academic integrity, and supports inclusive student success.

The HEA is leading a programme of work to support the higher education system in adapting to the evolving AI landscape. Key initiatives include:

• Guidance Framework on AI: In December 2023, the HEA published “Ten Considerations for Generative Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Irish Higher Education”: hub.teachingandlearning.ie/ten-considerations-for-generative-artificial-intelligence-adoption-in-irish-higher-education
• Sectoral Engagement: The HEA is currently conducting a series of nationwide surveys and targeted focus groups with students, academic staff, professional services, and senior leadership. The findings are directly informing the development of national guidance and resource provision.
• Leadership Summit on Generative AI: A high-level Leadership Summit will be convened in June 2025.
• Advisory Group on AI in T&L: The HEA has established a cross-sectoral advisory group, chaired by the HEA-appointed Policy Advisor for AI in Teaching and Learning, seconded from University College Cork.
• Forthcoming National Policy Framework: The above activities are feeding into a major policy initiative to be published in 2025. This framework will set out national priorities and recommendations for the responsible, inclusive, and sustainable integration of AI in higher education pedagogy and practice.
• AI Literacy Open Education Resources (OER): A national open course on AI literacy in teaching and learning, developed by the HEA in partnership with Dublin City University, University of Limerick, and Trinity College Dublin, has supported over 500 staff in developing their understanding of Generative AI (GenAI) and applying it within their teaching, learning, and assessment practices.
• AI in Teaching and Learning Resource Portal: A national, open-access hub is being developed to support institutions with curated guidance materials, case studies, policy examples, toolkits, and OERs.
• In parallel, individual higher education institutions are also responding directly to the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.