Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann, is included in the primary or post-primary curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36909/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The curricular frameworks provide clear pathways for schools to include Amhrán na bhFiann as part of broader learning about Irish history and identity. It is a matter for each school to decide whether to include the National Anthem as part of their Irish, History or Music programme. My department recognises the importance of national symbols, including Amhrán na bhFiann, as valuable educational tools for fostering civic pride and historical awareness. This was clearly demonstrated during the 2016 Centenary Programme, when schools nationwide participated meaningfully in the National Flag Ceremony while incorporating the anthem into their commemorative activities.

The current Primary School Curriculum for History does not specifically mention the National Anthem. Schools might, however, choose to teach the anthem as part of the strands Eras of Change and Conflict or Politics, Conflict and Society, which form part of the curriculum for senior classes in primary schools. Similarly, the current Primary School Curriculum for Music does not specifically mention the National Anthem either. Schools could, however, choose to teach the anthem as part of the strand Performing, which includes the very important strand unit Song Singing. This strand unit recommends teaching Amhráin Ghaeilge (songs in Irish).’

At post-primary level, the Junior Cycle History specification enables study of the anthem through Learning Outcome 2.4, which examines the relationship between politics and culture, and Learning Outcome 2.7 concerning key events between 1912 and 1923. For Leaving Certificate History, relevant contexts include Topic 3 on the Pursuit of Sovereignty and Impact of Partition (1912-1949), where the anthem's role in cultural nationalism might be explored, and Topic 6 covering Government, Society and the Economy (1949-1989), which could examine its ceremonial use in reflecting national identity. The anthem also features on the NCCA's suggested text list for First Year Irish, further highlighting its cultural significance.

Teachers may also teach the National Anthem as part of their Irish Music course to reinforce Irish music, culture, and history. They can teach it as part of a comparative analysis with other National Anthems from other countries to reinforce listening, composing and performing skills. Schools can teach students how to compose Anthems in both Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate. In Junior Cycle, CBA 1, which is a Composition Portfolio, clearly specifies Anthems as one of the options that students can produce should they so wish. It would be advisable for teachers to teach students about Anthems if they were to engage with this style of composing. Additionally, at both Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle, examination candidates may wish to perform Amhrán na bhFiann as part of their practical examination, which has no specific list of pieces for performance.