Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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412. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether funding will be made available to recognise programmes which teach fifth and sixth class primary school students on business and entrepreneurial skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51148/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department does not currently have a grant scheme process for programmes such as these as choices regarding educational materials, textbooks and other educational products/programmes, as well as digital and online services, are made by individual schools and their boards of management, not by the Department. In general, it is the current policy of the Department of Education and Youth not to endorse publications, products or services from individual, commercial or other providers.

For this reason, the Department does not recommend any specific books or resources to schools and allows schools and teachers to determine the most appropriate materials for their pupils.

The only requirement from the Department, on any resource used in a school, is that it covers the curriculum. Ultimately, the decision on which textbook and resources, if any, most appropriately supports the curriculum, rests with the school itself.