Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
114. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which students are currently being educated around safe and responsible use of social media; the future plans or curriculum developments being considered in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70426/25]
View answerOnline safety and the safe and ethical use of digital technologies, including social media, is a key component of the Department’s Digital Strategy for Schools. Under the strategy, Webwise, the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, promotes the autonomous, effective and safe use of the internet through a sustained information and awareness strategy targeting school leaders, teachers, parents and children themselves.
Webwise is funded by the Department of Education and Youth and co-funded through the European Commission and is part of the Irish Safer Internet Centre. Webwise develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and learning in their schools, both primary and post-primary. The [webwise.ie] resource includes a dedicated School/Teachers Hub, a Parents Hub and a Youth Hub. The School/Teachers Hub includes a range of curricular supports for teachers that they can use when teaching pupils/students about online safety
Webwise also run campaigns addressing key topical issues as they arise. With the help of the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel, Webwise develops youth-oriented awareness raising resources and training programmes.
In addition, Oide Technology in Education, the Department funded support service, supports the integration of digital competence, including aspects of digital wellbeing and online safety, where relevant across teacher professional learning programmes delivered through the Oide support service network.
The existing curriculum from early childhood to senior cycle offers multiple opportunities for the development of digital skills and digital literacy, as follows:
• The Primary Curriculum Framework outlines ‘being a digital learner’ as one of seven key competencies. This seeks to support children to become curious, creative, confident, and critical users of digital technology while fostering responsible, safe and ethical use of technology.
• The Primary Language Curriculum highlights the importance of Digital Literacy which supports the child’s ability to locate, select and critically analyse relevant information in text, visual and audio.
• The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Curriculum, looks at scientific inquiry, computational thinking and design thinking.
• The Wellbeing curriculum has learning outcomes related to the Media and Digital Wellbeing promoting the safe and ethical use of technology.
Reform of the curriculum at all levels is also underway which will ensure that our young people are equipped with the necessary digital skills and literacy required to participate fully in society.
The updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification includes a number of learning outcomes that relate to social media and the online world, including for example that students should be able to assess the benefits and difficulties associated with their online world, as well as discussing how to share personal information, images, opinions and emotions in a safe, responsible and respectful manner online.
The updated Senior Cycle SPHE specification include outcomes stating that students should be able to demonstrate the awareness and skills needed for nurturing healthy in-person and online relationships.
Schools may also choose to offer short courses which explicitly focus on digital skills. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed a short course in Digital Media Literacy through which students will learn to use digital technology, to discriminate between multiple sources of information and to participate safely in an online environment.
