Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
183. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being adopted to not just protect, but to include education for young people on online safety and dangers of AI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10990/26]
View answerKey to the Department of Education and Youth’s Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 is that all learners are given the opportunity to use digital technologies in their learning to reach their full potential and provide them with the necessary digital skills needed for an increasingly digital world. The Technology in Education unit of Oide (the Department funded support service for teachers and school leaders) together with its digital technology teams, design, develop and deliver a comprehensive range of teacher professional learning programmes to support the embedding of digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment to support and foster the development of digital skills and knowledge.
Online safety and the safe and ethical use of digital technologies is a key component of the Digital Strategy. 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 develops and disseminates resources that help teachers integrate digital citizenship and online safety into teaching and learning in their schools. 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 that promote digital citizenship and address topics such as online wellbeing, cyberbullying and more.
Webwise is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, providing free information, advice and resources for schools, families and young people on online safety and digital citizenship. 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. The Irish Safer Internet Centre is a partnership of four leading organisations Webwise, Hotline.ie, ISPCC[ ]and National Parents Council - with a mission to make the internet a better place for children and young people under the coordination of the Department of Justice.
Oide provides a variety of professional learning to teachers that places the learner at the centre of the learning experience. It provides school-based supports, workshops, specific resources and training online and in person. Oide has dedicated Wellbeing teams at Primary and Post-Primary. These teams support teachers and schools, through the Social Personal and Health Education curriculum, to develop and promote the personal development, health and wellbeing of the student, to create a positive school environment and culture, and, to prevent and tackle bullying, including online bullying and harassment.
In addition, existing curriculum at each level offers multiple opportunities for the development of digital skills and digital literacy. Reform of the curriculum at all levels is already underway which aims to ensure that our young people are equipped with the necessary digital skills and literacy to recognise mis and dis information and AI-generated online content.
Digital skills and literacy are also supported through the Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033 which identifies digital literacy as a core skill for all learners in a technology-driven world. It prioritises building critical thinking, problem-solving and digital skills so learners can recognise and respond to misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content.
Recent concerns regarding the availability of AI tools and apps that digitally remove clothing from images, creating fake nude content, highlight the importance of continued vigilance in relation to children’s online safety, age-appropriate access and responsible use of digital technologies in our schools. In a rapid response to emerging risks, my Department, in collaboration with Webwise, published updated information and guidance for parents and schools on the risks, harms and safeguarding issues associated with nudification apps on 9 January 2026, available via the Webwise website.
Building on this, my Department will reinforce existing guidance and supports for schools in relation to online safety and responsible use of digital technologies and will keep these arrangements under ongoing review in emerging risks associated with AI tools, including nudification apps.
The Department recently issued a communication to all schools highlighting the updated information and guidance for parents and schools on the risks, harms and safeguarding issues associated with nudification apps, and reminding schools of the range of online safety supports available through Webwise and the Department. It also reminded schools of the importance of maintaining an up-to-date Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) so that school policies continue to reflect emerging technologies, risks and safeguarding concerns for students and teachers.
