Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 February 2021
165. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 482 of 10 February 2021, if the remit for the citizens' assembly for education will be limited to post-primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9010/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to the response to Question No. 482 of 10 February 2021, the Deputy will be aware that initial proposals to hold a citizens' assembly on education have been informed by proposals from the Burren College of Art, which called for the Assembly to examine issues such as how to properly position post-primary education for the 21st century and how to encourage greater creativity, student agency and resilience. These are illustrative examples of possible topics for consideration not a determination of the matters for consideration by an Assembly.
Typically, Citizens' Assemblies have been established by individual Oireachtas Resolutions, which have set out their terms of reference. Based on previous Assemblies, a Citizens’ Assembly on the future of education could be quite wide-ranging and consultation in forming the Oireachtas Resolution could inform the scope of the Assembly. It would not be expected that the Assembly would be limited to matters relating to post primary education. Also, the Assembly will complement rather than replace existing and extensive partner engagement in the education sector.
Citizen Assemblies are run through the Department of the Taoiseach and my Department will be working with that Department to advance this commitment including the scope of its considerations.
