John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the most recent occasion her Department provided guidance, through Department circular, curriculum guidelines or any other method, to primary schools on the allocation of homework to pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31158/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge that homework can play an important part in helping students to prepare for forthcoming classwork and in reinforcing work already covered during class time. The Primary Curriculum Framework, published in 2023, supports learning at home through meaningful activities, including homework. It highlights the role of parents’ positive attitudes and encourages tasks that are engaging, age-appropriate, flexible, and suited to each child’s needs and home environment.

However, each school decides on its own homework policy based on what works best for its community. It’s recommended that teachers talk with parents about how they can support their child’s learning at home.

Good practice involves consulting with teachers, parents, and pupils when creating or reviewing the policy, and using relevant research that fits the school’s specific context.

One of the agencies under my remit, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), funded a report commissioned by the National Parents Council - Primary into parental involvement, engagement and partnership in children’s learning during their primary school years. The research was undertaken by the Marino Institute of Education and is available on the NPC's website here (www.npc.ie/news-events/parental-involvement-engagement-and-partnership-in-their-childrens-educatio)

While the broad focus of the report is on the features of good parent-school partnerships, there is also a focus on homework at primary level to include:

• The role of homework

• Homework in the Irish context

• Homework in the international literature

• Homework and achievement

• Parental involvement with homework

• Children’s voice on homework.

The report states that there is a lack of consensus on the value of homework, based on the literature that was reviewed. Both positive and negative effects of homework are noted, including disagreement on its impact on achievement and its implications for family life.