Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 November 2025
284. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the introduction of climate action and sustainable development as a second level school subject; if additional resources have been made available to participating schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62620/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Senior Cycle redevelopment programme provides for the introduction of two new Leaving Certificate subjects; Climate Action and Sustainable Development (CASD) and Drama, Film and Theatre Studies; in Phase One schools for fifth years from September 2025.
Both subjects are now being taught in the relevant selected Phase One schools. This phased approach, which is line with the introduction of previous new subjects, allows schools to be supported in the introduction of the new subject and for reflection on the effectiveness of those supports as more schools subsequently offer the subject.
With regards to Climate Action and Sustainable Development, Circular 0063/2025 outlines the resources being provided to the CASD Phase One schools and the process for payment of grants. This was circulated to the relevant post primary schools and includes the following supports:
• All Phase One schools to be provided with appropriate technical resources required to establish the new subject department in their school (this once off €5,000 grant has now been paid to schools).
• As indicated at the time of the Call for Applications from schools to become Phase One schools, Phase One schools are being provided with an additional teaching allocation of 0.2 WTE teacher per school (four hours) in the 2025/26 school year, rising to 0.4 WTE (eight hours) in the 2026/27 school year to facilitate the introduction of the subject. The allocation is not dependent on the size of a class group.
• As the specification provides the opportunity for place-based visits and outdoor learning for students Phase One schools are being provided with an annual grant, taking account of the number of students, for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 school years. This comprises of €50 per student per year to support engagement with the new subject in the 2025/26 school year.
• Oide, the teacher professional support service, commenced a comprehensive programme of teacher professional learning for subject teachers in the last school year which included a combination of in-person and online provision.
This began with Oide hosting an initial meet and greet in October 2024 with Phase 1 schools. This was followed by a two-day residential Professional Learning Experience (PLE) entitled ‘Introducing Climate Action and Sustainable Development’ which was further supported by a follow-up webinar which provided further resources to support planning and collaboration among CASD teachers. In term 2 & 3, collaboratives and a second PLE took place (which revisited the non-linear, integrated approach across the strands) along with an Oide Sample Paper Webinar for CASD. Combined, for the academic year 2024/25, these events recorded a total of 574 teacher interactions. Full-day in-person Professional Learning Events have been taking place this term since 6th October 2025 and will continue until January 2026 .
The Senior Cycle Redevelopment Implementation Support Measures document published last May contains a package of measures designed to support the implementation of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment programme more broadly in schools and the related curriculum development, assessment, and teacher professional learning processes.
The Department will continue to work with our education partners and the Phase One schools to ensure the schools have the resources necessary to meet the learning outcomes of the subject.
