Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on plans to roll out senior cycle redevelopment in light of the rejection of the implementation plan by an organisation (details supplied); the level of engagement and progress with the ASTI and other second level stakeholders since that ballot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40115/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to implementing the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme. As I confirmed in April, May and again last month that implementation will continue with the introduction of the first tranche of new and revised Leaving Certificate subjects from this September.

A comprehensive package of supports, including those developed through extensive negotiations with both post-primary teachers’ unions, is in place to ensure schools and teachers are equipped to deliver on this ambitious programme.

The membership of the TUI voted to accept that package of supports and I want to thank them and their members for their engagement throughout the process.

It is important to note that under the terms of the Public Service Agreement, ASTI and TUI members have committed to cooperate with Senior Cycle Redevelopment. A similar commitment is contained in the education sectoral plan agreed in September 2024. In addition, in engagements before the ballot process, the ASTI confirmed to Department officials that their members will teach the new and revised specifications from the next school year. They have repeated that commitment in a recent media engagement.

On June 30th, the ASTI formally notified my Department that it wished to invoke the dispute resolution procedures under the terms of the Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 (PSA) as it believed that the Department has breached the terms of that Agreement and the Action Plan for the Education sector in respect of the implementation of Senior Cycle Redevelopment.

I and my department are of the view that there has been no breach of the PSA, as ongoing co-operation with Senior Cycle Reform is clearly reflected under the obligations agreed between ICTU and the Government under the PSA and in the Action Plans for the Education Sector.

My department is now preparing to engage with the ASTI in line with the dispute resolution terms of the PSA.

Under a commitment in the support package, my Department has established the Post-Primary Implementation Group, which has met on two occasions to date and will be meeting in July and August ahead of the start of the next school year. The group focuses on matters impacting teachers, including school leaders, relating to curriculum and assessment enactment at Senior Cycle. Substantive progress on implementation matters ahead of next September is being made in these discussions. As a result of the outcomes of the union ballots, this group comprises the Department and the TUI only, with no ASTI representation.

My officials have also met with representatives of the schools management bodies and school leaders in recent weeks and will do so again in the coming weeks. The Senior Cycle Redevelopment Partners’ Forum, which includes representatives of both teacher unions along with other education partners, is next scheduled to meet in September.

Myself and my officials will continue to meet with all our education partners as we continue to implement the Programme for Government commitment to implement the redevelopment programme and deliver for our second-level students.