James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the development of any policies, guidelines and supports for second level educators in relation to the effective and responsible integration of AI into teaching and assessment practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31304/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There is a need to ensure careful consideration regarding 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 Oide Technology in Education (TiE) is currently finalising guidance on the use of AI in teaching and learning. This will support teachers to educate and mediate the potential application of AI 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 were AI is used it is in a safe, responsible and ethical manner.

Ongoing research, engagement with other EU member states and national regulatory changes including the implementation of the EU AI Act, 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 can bring to education. On that basis, it is intended that the guidance will be a live document and reviewed and updated on a regular basis to best support schools and teachers whilst taking account of feedback from the system

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.

Since the 2023 examinations, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) has updated its general and subject specific documentation to include an instruction in relation to material generated by AI software. Guidelines from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to support the completion of Additional Assessment Components (AACs) in new and revised Leaving Certificate subjects were published in December 2024. The inclusion in the AAC Guidelines of a requirement for any material generated by AI software to be appropriately referenced is in line with the approach taken by the SEC in other subjects currently. Further specific guidance on using generative AI in AACs will be provided in future SEC documents.