Written Answers Nos. 458-477
458. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider the allocation of an additional teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32697/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.
The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the March meeting of the Appeals Board. The appeal was unsuccessful as the Appeals Board found that the grounds of the appeal did not meet the eligibility criteria, set out in Circular 0011/2025. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
459. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a speech and language therapist will be appointed at a school (details supplied) for the duration of a period of leave. [32702/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe PQ does not fall under the remit of the Department of Education and Youth. – the appointment of a speech and language therapist to a school for the duration of a period of leave is more appropriate to department of Health or the HSE.
460. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the plans to build SET classrooms during the summer holidays (details supplied). [32710/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School to which the Deputy refers was approved funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme for a project providing two special education tuition rooms. The project is devolved for delivery to the school authority.
The Stage 2b (developed design) report was received by my Department and is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, are subjected to the required due diligence as specified in the Department's infrastructure guidelines.
Upon completion of this review process my Department officials will communicate with the school authority regarding the next steps to advance this significant project.
461. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will address serious and ongoing health and safety issues with a prefab unit at a school which is used as accommodation for a special class (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32731/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my department has approved funding for the school in question for 2 special education classrooms, central activities space and sensory garden under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. This project is currently at Stage 1 (preliminary design) of the architectural planning process.
My department is not in receipt of an application in relation to the prefab unit or an engineer’s report referenced in relation to this school. My Department will consider this report once it has been received.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan (NDP), involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects.? Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities.? A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department to support the provision of special education accommodation and meet school place needs.? This brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.
As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030.? It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important.? The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised
The purpose of the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
While my department does not provide temporary accommodation in the form of prefabricated structures, it is an option for the school to source suitable interim accommodation to rent in the locality and submit an application to the Department for review. My officials remain available to work with the school authorities throughout this process.
462. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason that capitation payments per secondary-school student are significantly higher than those per primary-school student; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32748/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.
Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.
As part of the capitation package in Budget 2025 the Department is pleased to have secured over €30 million as a permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This increase is on top of the circa 9.2% increase from last year’s budget. This will bring the standard rate of capitation grant to the level of €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools from September 2025. Enhanced rates will also be paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.
In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools and €55 per student in post-primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.
It is difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post-primary level.
In general, post-primary schools are larger than primary schools. They have specialist rooms such as laboratories, workshops etc. This leads to higher unit costs for heat, light, power, maintenance and cleaning.
There are also additional resources required at post-primary level for specialist subjects, such as, Home Economics, Wood Technology, Engineering, Graphics and Applied Technology.
Therefore, there is a difference in the level of capitation funding provided to Primary and Post-Primary schools.
The current standard rate of capitation grant is €200 per pupil in primary schools and €345 per student in post-primary schools.
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
463. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students that left school during each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 without completing the Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Applied; if there are any figures as to where those students went next; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32749/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent figures available concerns the students who began their post primary education in 2017. This cohort were due to complete their Leaving Certificate in the academic years 2021-22 or 2022-23. The 2016 cohort finished in the years 2020-21 or 2021-22.
Figures for the 2018 cohort finishing in 2022-23 or 2023-24 are yet to be published. The following table shows the number for pupils leaving school before completing their Leaving Certificate:
|
Cohort |
Pupils leaving before completing Leaving Certificate |
|
2016 |
5,324 |
|
2017 |
6,398 |
The following table shows the number of students leaving school before completing their Leaving Certificate Applied for the 2016 and 2017 cohorts, these students are included in the overall Leaving Certificate figures above:
|
Year Post Primary Education Commenced |
Total who left school prior to completing Leaving Cert Applied |
|
2016 |
697 |
|
2017 |
803 |
Reports detailing retention rates in our post primary schools can be found here:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/retention/.
Tusla is responsible for maintaining a register of all children who are home educated or who attend a school that does not fall under the definition of a ‘recognised school’ as set out in the Education Act 1998.
Tusla has established the Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Service (AEARS), which has oversight of the regulation of provision for education in places other than recognised schools. The legal basis for carrying out assessments in places other than recognised schools is under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000.
Children under the age of 16 who leave a recognised school for an alternative education setting must register with AEARS for inclusion on the Section 14 register. These children are entitled to and can choose to sit the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate examinations.
464. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on programmes to improve media literacy in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32750/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of digital skills and media literacy must start from a young age. The Department of Education and Youth’s response to the provision of digital skills and media literacy within early childhood and care and school settings includes:
• Curriculum at all levels
• Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027
• STEM Education Policy Statement 2017-2026
• Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy 2024-2033
Existing curriculum from early childhood to senior cycle offers multiple opportunities for the development of digital skills and media literacy. Reform of the curriculum at all levels is already underway which will ensure that our young people are equipped with the necessary digital skills and literacy required to participate fully in society.
Primary
The Coding in Primary Schools Initiative (https://ncca.ie/media/4155/primary-coding_final-report-on-the-coding-in-primary-schools-initiative.pdf) was undertaken by the NCCA from 2017-2019. It included:
• Initial desktop audit of 22 jurisdictions with a focus on identifying the presence of coding in the curriculum
• Follow-on in-depth curriculum investigation which explored how six international jurisdictions integrated coding and computational thinking into their curricula
• Review of literature on computational thinking and its importance for children’s learning as well as its place in a primary curriculum.
The initiative found that:
• An ever-increasing number of primary schools are moving beyond the current curriculum and are already teaching about coding and computational thinking in their classrooms.
• A playful, child-centred, project-based approach to the teaching of coding and computational thinking was very effective.
• The identification of three aspects of digital competence—creating with technology, understanding technology, and using technology— as fundamental to the inclusion of coding and computational thinking in a curriculum.
Some of the steps set out for integration of coding and computational thinking include:
• Continuing with interagency collaboration, for example, with Oide, Education Centres, and Webwise, to ensure a joined-up approach in the work with schools on digital technologies and to inform the ongoing redevelopment of the primary curriculum.
• Adopting and supporting a playful, child-centred, project-based approach to teaching coding and computational thinking.
• Creating an explicit space in the curriculum, for example, in ‘science and technology’ to enable teaching and learning of the fundamental skills and concepts of coding and computational thinking, alongside integration across the curriculum.
The findings from the report were taken into consideration in the redevelopment of the primary curriculum.
• The Primary Language Curriculum highlights the important of Digital Literacy which supports the child’s ability to locate, select and critically analyse relevant information in text, visual and audio. It also includes the capacity to engage with digital technology in creative and imaginative ways.
• The Primary Curriculum Framework, (https://ncca.ie/media/4456/ncca-primary-curriculum-framework-2020.pdf) published in March 2023 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 framework also proposes that digital technology would become part of the curriculum area of Science, Technology and Mathematics with its own subject specification for third to sixth class.
• The Primary Mathematics Curriculum, 2023 provides for children to investigate, develop, select, apply, interpret, model and compare a variety of problem-solving situations and strategies as they explore Mathematics and deepen their mathematical understanding. They apply their mathematical knowledge and skills in flexible, efficient and creative ways to solve problems; conduct investigations; and develop and share their computational thinking.
• The Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) Education Curriculum specification to be published in September 2025 places an emphasis on developing children’s awareness and appreciation of the nature of STEM, while engaging in scientific inquiry, computational thinking and the design thinking process. Computational thinking encourages children to use logic and reasoning to break down problems into manageable parts, to apply prior knowledge to new contexts and to focus on important information relevant to the process of problem-solving.
Post-Primary
The Framework for Junior Cycle – which underpins all learning in the first three years of post-primary – has an explicit focus on development of digital skills. At Junior Cycle the student is expected to use technology and digital media tools – to learn, to communicate, and to do so in a responsible and ethical way.
Specific short course in Digital Media Literacy – students learn to use digital technology, discriminate between multiple sources of information and to participate safely and effectively in an online environment.
in Junior Cycle English, the course highlights the use of non-literary texts such as media texts (advertisements, media broadcasts) and opinion pieces (articles, speeches, social media posts) to interpret meaning, compare, evaluate effectiveness of, and respond to media and digital media
Many Classroom-based assessments at Junior Cycle require students to conduct research and reflect on their findings and of course digital literacy is in play there
Leaving Certificate Computer Science is the study of computing and algorithmic processes. It includes how programming and computational thinking can be applied to the solution of problems, and how computing technology impacts the world around us. Resources and information on professional learning are available on Compsci.ie and Oide.ie.
At Senior Cycle similarly there are opportunities to learn with and about digital media literacy in subjects like history, English, politics and society – and similarly we will soon have an updated SPHE specification too which also has some learning outcomes that deal with digital literacy and online safety.
465. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will commit to increasing the number of multi-denominational schools; the progress that has been made since 2011; if she plans to survey parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32792/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently 172 primary schools with a multi-denominational or inter-denominational ethos. This includes:
• 51 of the 52 new primary schools established for demographic reasons since 2011 having a multi-denominational ethos
• 32 areas now have increased multi-denominational provision as a result of the reconfiguration or divesting process undertaken since 2011.
For historical reasons, most primary schools are State-aided parish schools, with the local Bishop as patron. It is recognised, including by the Catholic patrons, that more diverse provision is required to cater for our changing society.
The Programme for Government commits to seeking to increase choice for parents by ensuring that families can access both multi/non-denominational and faith-based education.
The schools reconguration process, supporting transfers of schools to multi-denominational patrons in response to the wishes of local communities, has been developed in order to meet demand from parents and to accelerate the delivery of multi-denominational schools. When a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open with the same roll number and operating from the same school property.
Given the importance of increasing choice for parents, I intend to publish a plan to meet the commitment contained in the Programme for Government regarding multi-denominational education. It is intended as part of this work to conduct a survey of primary school parents and guardians on their preferences on important aspects of school provision and choice, including the future patronage and ethos of their school.
466. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a person (details supplied) was refused under the teacher refund scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32794/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme is to provide funding towards the cost of course participation and examination fees on successful completion of teacher professional learning courses. In order to prioritise teachers’ professional learning in areas clearly linked to learning, teaching and assessment, funding is allocated to relevant programmes in line with policy priorities in the following key areas:
- Upskilling for existing post primary teachers leading to registration with the Teaching Council in an additional subject, to support teacher supply at post-primary level.
- Inclusion and tackling disadvantage, discrimination and inequality.
- Promoting well-being (in line with the Wellbeing Policy and Framework for Practice 2019 - 2023).
- Digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment (in line with the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027).
- Improving students’ literacy and numeracy skills.
- Curricular initiatives identified by the Department of Education and Youth (must also be endorsed by the applicant teacher’s school management) .
The candidate was informed that they have the option to appeal this decision, as outlined in Circular 003/2025. This will give the appeals committee an opportunity to consider the individual circumstances in relation to their application.
Appeals on decisions must be received in email format in the tfrsappeals@education.gov.ie inbox within four working weeks from the date on which notification of the decision was issued.
The emailed appeal must include:
- A statement from the appellant detailing the grounds for appeal.
- A copy of the refusal correspondence received from Clare Education Support Centre.
- A copy of the online application form.
467. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed building programme for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32812/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.
The brief for this project is to provide a new 27 classroom school with 3 classrooms for children with special educational needs and a General Purpose Hall on the existing school site. Works include the demolition of existing school building.
The project is at an advanced stage of the tender process, the letter of intent was issued and a contractor identified. The next steps for the project will be the completion of the tender process and progression to Stage 4 – Construction.
The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery, and I want to reassure the school community that the school building project will be progressed and delivered. Department officials will be in contact with the school authority when there is further progression of the project.
468. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can report any progress regarding plans for a building programme at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32813/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post primary school with accommodation and 6 classrooms for children with special educational needs.
It is intended that the project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated Project Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.
This ADAPT 4 Programme – Programme Innovate will be led by Integrated Project Teams (IPT’s), consisting of highly skilled and experienced design professionals, architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors and various other consultants to deliver the projects.
AECOM as the Programme Manager are overseeing the procurement and appointment of the IPT’s. The procurement process for the IPT for the tranche of projects, including this project is currently being concluded.
Upon appointment, the IPT will begin the initial stage of architectural planning – Stage 1, where a site and current building assessment is carried out, and initial design sketch schemes are created.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
My Department will keep the school and patron body informed of the progression of this project
469. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application for ASD classrooms within the approval process for a school (details supplied); the projected timeline for its implementation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32830/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my department is in receipt of an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) from the school in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school's existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan (NDP), involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects.? Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities.? A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department to support the provision of special education accommodation and meet school place needs.? This brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.
As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030.? It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important.? The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the school's application is being considered by my officials. I can assure the Deputy that the application will be assessed and an official decision will issue to the school authorities directly.
470. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of judicial review cases her Department has defended in each of the past ten years; the number in relation to which proceedings are pending or continuing; the number of cases which were lost and won, respectively, in the same period; the number of cases that settled in the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32839/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra471. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of legal cases defended by her Department in each of the past ten years in which the statutory and constitutional right to an education was invoked; of those cases, the number in which proceedings are pending or continuing; the number of cases which were lost and won, respectively, in the same period; the number of cases that settled in the past ten years in respect of the same matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32852/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra472. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of legal cases defended by her Department in each of the past ten years in which the next friend of a minor was the plaintiff or applicant; of those cases, the number in which proceedings are pending or continuing; the number of cases which were lost and won, respectively, in the same period; the number of cases that settled in the past ten years in respect of the same matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32853/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 470, 471 and 472 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. It is currently being collated and reviewed by officials in my Department and a response will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
473. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport if the next Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund will allow for site purchase and the planning for essential swimming pool infrastructure in towns where a swimming pool does not already exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31873/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAvailability and ease of access to sports facilities, whether in a club setting, on public lands or in other amenity areas, is a key factor in drawing more people to participation in sport. Planning for future facilities’ needs, locations and types is a particular focus of our current Sports Action Plan. However, the use to which lands are put is ultimately a matter for the relevant local authority and my Department does not fund the acquisition of land for sport.
Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy was published in August 2024 and it sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. The Working Group tasked with developing the Strategy consisted of representatives from my Department, Swim Ireland, Sport Ireland, Active Disability Ireland, Ireland Active and the local authorities.
The resultant Strategy includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety awareness and providing a pathway that allows for the nurturing and development of potential high performers.
The public consultation that informed the development of the National Swimming Strategy suggested that existing swimming pool stock is insufficient and, as a result, a key focus of the Strategy is on providing improved facilities. There is a specific action in the strategy to complete an in-depth analysis of swimming pool provision within Ireland with particular reference to identifying gaps in provision. Swim Ireland, the National Governing Body for swimming, is currently undertaking an analysis of the type and nature of swimming pool ownership in the country and will publish a report in this regard in the coming period. This report will be central to the future development of swimming pool facilities.
In support of the Strategy, additional funding of €500,000 was provided to Swim Ireland in 2024 for the deployment of swimming activators to work within local authority areas, focusing on increasing participation amongst under-represented groups and improving coaching supports and facilities. This additional funding will also be provided in 2025 and 2026 – totalling €1.5 million over three years.
Responsibility for the delivery of the Strategy’s Action Plan will be shared across Government Departments, State Agencies and other key stakeholders, including local authorities. In the coming period, Sport Ireland have established an oversight group of key stakeholders to give leadership, policy direction, prioritisation and mobilisation of resources to support, monitor and measure the Strategy’s implementation.
Capital support for new swimming pools, and the refurbishment of existing pools, continues to be provided by my Department through the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF), which to date has allocated €28.9 million to 9 swimming pool projects.
My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF, 2019 and 2024, and this process will inform any decisions regarding the timing of a future round. I would expect however that the period of time to a future LSSIF round will be less than the period of time between the first and second rounds.
474. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the protections and supports he plans to introduce to safeguard and promote authentic Irish cultural production and employment in the arts sector given the growth of streaming platforms and AI generated content; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31886/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe growth of streaming platforms over recent years has resulted in presented wide-ranging and ongoing opportunities for the Irish audiovisual industry. Many productions made in Ireland are now streaming across the world on the major streaming platforms. Many of these are also set in Ireland so that Irish culture, society and landscapes are becoming familiar to a global audience. This activity is reflected in the industry on the ground with Irish creatives and crews benefiting from the highest levels of production and expertise. This success has been generated by Government action over many decades providing funding to develop the industry and ensure a highly skilled workforce and as well as a completive tax relief.
Screen Ireland is the development agency for the Irish audiovisual sector. Screen Ireland's remit includes the development of the domestic screen industry and attracting internationally mobile productions here. A priority is supporting artists and filmmakers to tell their stories. The training division of Screen Ireland ensures that training and upskilling are central to all productions it funds and also works with incoming productions to develop and sign off on skills plans that benefit the wider industry. The involves ensuring the industry has the appropriate skills to take advantage of emerging creative technologies. As new formats and technologies open up, new avenues and forms of creative storytelling can offer opportunities to cross disciplines and explore new forms of creativity.
Screen Ireland places particular emphasis on protecting and supporting artists and this remains essential with regard to implementing any new or emerging technologies. It is vital to work with industry on future proofing by placing emphases on the importance of research, education and training in these areas when it comes to the new production workflows and international best practice.
In the matter of AI, my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has responsibility for the National AI Strategy, the A.I. Advisory Council, including the Council's receipt of recommendations on AI and the creative and cultural sectors. Minister Niamh Smyth T.D. is Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Trade Promotion, AI and Digital Transformation. I understand that Minister Smyth will hold a roundtable discussion, later this month, about the AI Advisory Councils Advice Paper on the Creative Sector. Officials of my Department have been invited to the roundtable and will attend.
475. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the supports available for postmasters struggling to keep their post offices open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31891/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra476. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to outline his Department's position on a union (details supplied) request for a €15 million annual funding package for the post office network beyond 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31892/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra477. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the specific steps being taken to prevent further rural post office closures, in view of concerns raised by a union (details supplied); if any actions are being taken to support post office closures in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31893/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 475, 476 and 477 together.
The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The Programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. My Department is working to deliver on this and is engaging with relevant stakeholders in relation to the funding. Additionally, my Department is working with Government colleagues to secure future funding in line with the Programme for Government.
An amount of €10 million/annum is currently being provided over a three-year fixed term (2023-2025) to An Post. An Post then disperses this funding across the post office network, with all contractor post offices benefitting from the Government funding with the objective of securing the stability of the Network. The funding is being paid monthly for each 12-month period. There has been over €23 million claimed by An Post for the period 2023 to end April 2025 for the network.
It should be noted that An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. An Post has statutory responsibility for the State's postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, including decisions relating to specific post offices are operational matters for the Board and management of the company and not one in which I, as Minister, have any function. The terms under which Postmasters contract with An Post is a matter between the Postmasters and An Post and any negotiations are a matter for both parties directly.
