Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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882. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update as of August 2025 on her engagement with teachers unions regarding leaving certificate reform due to be rolled out in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45987/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to the ongoing delivery of Senior Cycle Redevelopment in our schools, with many of our young people already experiencing the benefits of the reforms in classrooms today. Engagement with all education partners has played a key part in the success of the programme to date. Both post-primary teacher unions have been involved in the roll-out of the programme at every step since 2016.

As the Deputy will know, a robust package of supports, known as the Implementation Support Measures, was published in May, following extensive discussions with teacher unions. The package contains a broad ranging series of measures, designed to support schools in the continued delivery of the vision for Senior Cycle Redevelopment.

This package was accepted by TUI members, and rejected by ASTI members, in their respective ballots earlier this summer.

The first tranche of nine new and revised subjects have now been introduced into the national curriculum and are live in schools.

Under a commitment in the support package, my department has established the Post-Primary Implementation Group, comprised of representatives of my Department and the TUI. The group has met on four occasions to date, most recently in August prior to schools re-opening. The group focuses on matters impacting teachers, including school leaders, relating to curriculum and assessment enactment at Senior Cycle.

Whilst ASTI executives have confirmed directly to my officials and in media interviews that their members will teach the new curriculum in our schools; the ASTI has invoked the dispute resolution mechanisms under the Public Sector Agreement, and my department is engaging with the union on this.

The Senior Cycle Redevelopment Partners’ Forum, a representative stakeholder engagement group which underpins the collaboration necessary to support the reforms. Both teacher unions are represented at the Forum, which has met regularly since 2023. The next meeting of the Forum is scheduled for later this month.

At its core, the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme is driven by a commitment to serving the best interests of our students and young people. My department and I remain fully engaged in fostering close and constructive collaboration with all stakeholders, as we continue to advance the implementation of the reforms.