School Curriculum

5. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the arrangements in place for parents and parent representative organisations to raise concerns directly with her Department regarding the national education curriculum and provision of educational resources; and the frequency with which she personally meets with such bodies. [54436/26]

357. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to improve education and awareness around men's health issues within the primary and secondary school curriculum; whether her Department plans to expand age-appropriate men's health education in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53732/26]

358. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has reviewed the extent to which men's health issues are covered in the SPHE and RSE curricula; the steps being taken to ensure students receive comprehensive and evidence-based education on these topics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53733/26]

289. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options available to an individual who wishes to have their TY Online Driver Education Programme considered for the school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48562/26]

425. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the survey of school principals published by organisations (details supplied) on 4 March 2026 which found that one fifth of second-level schools were forced to drop at least one subject entirely due to teacher shortages; the number of second-level schools that withdrew or restricted access to a subject in the 2025…

426. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is taking to address the recruitment of teachers in the subjects identified in a survey by organisations (details supplied) published on 4 March 2026 as most affected by shortages, namely Irish, mathematics and French; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44985/26]

431. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to the survey of school principals published by organisations (details supplied) on 4 March 2026 which found that one fifth of second-level schools nationally were forced to drop at least one subject entirely due to teacher shortages, the number of post-primary schools in Cork city and county that withdrew or restric…

521. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that the mandatory subjects for junior cycle vary between school (details supplied); if there are plans to address this to ensure students are not put under undue pressure or disadvantaged in exams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45911/26]

202. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will request the State Examinations Commission to review 'Culture War' language as used in the applied Leaving Certificate Social Education examination, which normalises terminology that many view as divisive, unnecessary, and as an affront to the rights and dignity of biological women; and if she will make a sta…

923. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to address the concern raised in the European Commission's Education and Training Monitor 2025 that the move under the senior cycle redevelopment to 40% of student assessment occur outside the exam hall may disadvantage students from rural or disadvantaged backgrounds due to a shortage of resources an…

105. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update regarding the provision of a special reading class in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40787/26]

106. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to improve the standard and the extent of foreign languages being taught in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40598/26]

560. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to promote financial literacy in Irish schools. [39122/26]

632. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she supports full CEFR alignment for the Irish curricula in primary and secondary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40137/26]

310. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is exploring the introduction of structured literacy approaches across primary schools; the current status of any such consideration; and whether plans are in place to support teacher training in structured literacy methodologies nationally. [36420/26]

330. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she or her predecessors received legal advice on the implications for her Department of the decision in a case (details supplied); the reasons, as examples, the school year, week and day have not been statutorily prescribed under section 25 of the Education Act 1998 and school curriculums have never been prescribed under sectio…

614. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the 'Key to the EU' programme developed through University College Cork for use in primary schools; if her Department would actively promote this programme within schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34953/26]

615. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary schools currently using the 'Key to the EU' programme; whether participation is monitored by her Department, given the programme connects fully with the revised primary curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34954/26]

616. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department is considering the development or expansion of educational programmes in schools and youth settings aimed at teaching children and teenagers practical skills relating to horse care, animal welfare and responsible ownership, particularly in areas of Dublin with a strong tradition of horse ownership; whether…

336. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to her commitment to develop guidance on best practice arrangements for pupils in denominational schools whose parents request that they do not attend religious instruction, if she will ensure that this guidance is framed in order that it expressly covers all conscience-based opt-outs under section 30(2)(e) of the Educatio…

337. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that any Departmental guidance on opt-out arrangements covers all conscience-based opt-outs and does not create an artificial distinction between families who invoke the same statutory right in respect to different elements of the curriculum given that the same practical and rights-based issues arise; and if she…

338. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she accepts that providing no more than ad hoc supervision, or requiring a child to sit in the same classroom while instruction contrary to conscience is delivered, is inconsistent with the State’s duty to vindicate parental rights under the Constitution; the way in which upcoming guidance will address this; and if she will mak…

622. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are plans to offer Irish Sign Language as a Leaving Certificate subject; if so, the timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30877/26]

15. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will make the national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann a mandatory part of the primary school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17284/26]

52. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to consider introducing AI literacy classes in secondary schools, that will include age-appropriate, curriculum aligned modules at both junior and senior cycle level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29160/26]