Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will pause the introduction of senior-cycle redevelopment for all tranche 2 subjects, not just English and accounting, in order to allow for adequate preparation particularly relating to school resourcing, the impact of artificial intelligence and evaluation of additional assessment components; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31225/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has published (ncca.ie/en/senior-cycle/senior-cycle-redevelopment/schedule-of-senior-cycle-subjects-for-redevelopment/) the schedule for the revision of all Leaving Certificate Established subjects. This redevelopment will be implemented in five annual tranches from 2025 to 2029, with new and revised specifications introduced for fifth years in each year.

Currently, those subjects and the revised LCVP link modules in Tranche 2 are scheduled for introduction in schools in the 2026/27 school year. The development process for these revised specifications is nearing completion, and draft final specifications are scheduled to be presented to the NCCA Council at its June meeting.

Timelines in respect of the introduction of the Tranche 2 subjects were discussed during recent engagements with education partners, and specifically in the engagements with both teacher unions. Consequently, in the recently published Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Support Measures document, there is an acknowledgement that “where considered appropriate and necessary for development and/or implementation reasons, the implementation of individual subjects may be delayed from the current published schedule.”

Having regard to the above commitment, careful consideration will be given to the planning, implementation and enactment aspects of each of the Tranche 2 specifications, when the final specifications are submitted to me by the NCCA for my approval. Any change to the published timelines in respect of introduction of Tranche 2 specifications, including English and Accounting, will be made at that time.

My Department and I look forward to continuing close collaboration with all our education partners, as we work together in implementing the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme.