Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her view on the Constitutional guarantee that parents shall be primary educators of their children; to elaborate on how her Department is working to vindicate that right; the reason she made no mention of parents in her comments launching a new education consultation process in July 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52318/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Constitution acknowledges the family as the primary and natural educator of the child and sets out the rights and duties of the State in the matter of education. The Constitution makes explicit that the State does not oblige parents to send their children to any particular type of school. Parents are free to provide education in their homes, in private schools, or in schools recognised or established by the State.

In line with the provisions of Section 14(1) of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, Tusla’s Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS), under the remit of my department, is responsible for the regulation of the provision of education for children in places other than in a recognised school, including children who are home schooled or who are enrolled in a non-recognised independent school. This is to ensure that such children receive a certain minimum education.

Parents who wish to educate their child in a place other than a recognised school, including in their home, are required to make an application to AEARS to have their child included on the Section 14 Statutory Register. AEARS will then make an assessment of the educational provision to determine if the child is eligible to be placed on the Section 14 statutory register. Assessments are carried out by an authorised person in line with the ‘Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in Places other than a Recognised School’, issued by my department.

I announced my intention to hold a National Convention on Education, bringing together all stakeholders in education, including parents, last July. This represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for parents, as well as children, young people, educators and wider society to help shape Ireland’s education system for decades to come. Parents and guardians will form one of the groups who make up the Convention. Parents and guardians will also have the opportunity to have their say as part of the national conversation, the output of which will inform the Convention's agenda. My officials are currently progressing the planning for the Convention and national conversation.

Under the Constitution, the provisions of article 44 recognise the rights of children to attend school without attending religious instruction at that school. Furthermore, the provisions of Section 30(2) (e) of the Education Act 1998 provide that a school shall not require a student to attend instruction in any subject which is contrary to the conscience of the parent/guardian of the student or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student. It is expected that this right will be upheld by schools on foot of a parental request.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 includes a specific provision which requires schools to include in their enrolment policies details of the school’s arrangements in respect of students where requests have been made to attend school without attending religious instruction.

Parents have a right to request that their child opt out of any subject which is contrary to their conscience, in accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act.

Parents are a critical stakeholder in our education system. Parents views contribute across a wide range of policy and other developments.

The National Parents Council is a national representative body for parents of children in primary and post-primary education and plays an important role as a channel of communication between parents and my department. My department provides annual funding to the National Parents Council to support this work and its work to support parents’ associations in schools. My department also provides annual funding to the National Parents Council to provide anti-bullying training for parents.

My department is progressing the Charter Bill through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The aim of the Charter Bill is to improve the level of engagement between all members of the school community by inviting feedback, comment and observation from the school community and by further developing a listening culture in schools. One of the key concepts of the Bill is the need for a school to consult with students and their parents on individual school plans, policies and activities. The Bill will also provide for national complaints procedures for parents and students.