Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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506. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider providing funding to a theatre (details supplied) as a production created specifically for leaving certificate English students across Munster; if she will advise on alternative funding avenues which may be available; and if she will consider funding annual productions in line with the leaving certificate curriculum in the future. [39559/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Each year my Department advises schools of the list of prescribed texts for Leaving Certificate English for students entering fifth year. Requirements are different for students studying Higher level and Ordinary level. School authorities and teachers are asked to note that no specific text is compulsory, although at Higher level one of the listed Shakespeare plays must be studied. Dramas for study as a text on their own by 2026 Leaving Certificate students include Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Sive by John B Keane and The Crucible by Arthur Miller. In addition, a further six plays may be studied as comparative texts including Medea by Euripides, Girl on an Altar by Marina Carr, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, Once before I go by Phillip McMahon, Colder than Here by Laura Wade, and The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare. There is no funding stream in my Department to support specific theatres or theatre companies in staging performance of any of these or other dramas.

However, the Deputy may wish to note that Leaving Certificate Drama, Film and Theatre Studies is being introduced on a phased basis in a number of selected schools from the start of the 2025/26 school year. The introduction of this new subject is being supported by a comprehensive package of supports. These supports include the establishment of a single supplier framework to directly provide Phase One schools in the free education scheme offering Drama, Film, and Theatre Studies with technical resources such as cameras, lenses, tripods, audio equipment, lighting, and staging. All Phase One schools in the free education scheme will be provided with an annual Implementation Support grant of €50 per student to support engagement with the new subject in the 2025/26 school year.

In relation to access for students to screened performances, a further support being offered to schools is an online streaming media service. This service is being provided to allow Phase One schools access to prescribed material from August 2025 and includes access to prescribed screened theatrical performances.

My Department also continues to have an active role in the delivery of a number of actions under the cross-departmental Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027 which aims to provide access and opportunities for children and young people to arts, culture, creativity and education in all of its different forms.