1397. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures her Department is planning to support training, workload protections, and resources for the implementation of the senior cycle redevelopment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58815/26]

As the Deputy will be aware, Senior Cycle Redevelopment (SCR) is already underway in schools and includes the introduction of new and revised subject specifications over five annual tranches from 2025 to 2029 allowing for phased implementation to reduce workload pressure on the system.

A robust package of measures and supports is being provided by my Department and our partner agencies to support the implementation of SCR and to ensure that teachers are fully equipped and supported to deliver on this ambitious programme.

My Department has made significant investment to support teacher professional learning through Oide, the dedicated professional learning support service for teachers. To date in 2026, over 32,300 school leaders and teachers received whole school days professional learning, while over 500 school leaders attended in-person regional workshops. These sessions focussed on supporting student engagement with the curriculum, approaches to Additional Assessment Components (AACs) and leading subject planning in schools. Comprehensive subject and programme specific professional learning has also been delivered to support the implementation of the Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 subjects. In May 2026, 3,970 teachers attended dedicated sessions on the Tranche 2 examination papers following their publication by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

To support teachers in the delivery of SCR the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and SEC have been working together and independently on an ongoing basis to ensure the early publication of new and revised subject specifications and supporting assessment materials. This includes the publication by the SEC of double the number of sample examination papers 18 months earlier than the previous norm. The early publication by the SEC of sample AAC briefs in the autumn of the year prior to the introduction of specifications allows for their integration into teaching and learning across the programme. From Tranche 3 onwards, teachers will be further supported by the even earlier publication of sample AAC briefs in May in the year in advance of the introduction of the specifications in schools. Throughout SCR, the SEC has sought to support teachers and learners by spreading the load of assessment throughout the school year to the greatest possible degree.

As the Deputy will also be aware, from the outset of SCR my Department has engaged extensively with both post-primary teacher unions, as the representatives of teachers, on an ongoing basis leading to the development of a robust package of additional supports known as the www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/circulars/senior-cycle-redevelopment-scr-implementation-support-measures/(SCRISM).

In line with SCRISM commitments, my Department issued two Circulars in April 2026 providing for two new posts of responsibility in schools from September 2026 to directly support the implementation of the SCR programme. Each post-primary school will have a Senior Cycle Co-Ordinator post and schools offering the Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Programmes will also have a co-ordinator for those programmes. The terms of these posts provide for timetable alleviation for the post holder by way of commensurate concession to the teacher allocation to schools in line with the provisions of the circulars of up to 4 hours for each post in each school depending on enrolment criteria.

Under the SCRISM, my Department has committed to Early Rapid Reviews of new and revised subjects throughout the phased implementation of senior cycle redevelopment. These reviews will involve currently practising teachers, including teachers nominated by teachers’ unions, and will consider the operation of assessment arrangements, including time audits, and emerging trends in student uptake level.

My Department has also committed to the formation of several working groups including a Workload Working Group which will examine the impact of various initiatives on workload and the mitigating steps that can be taken. Work is currently underway to establish this group.

Following further discussions with post primary teacher unions an addendum to the SCRISM was published in 2026 providing for further additional support for the implementation of SCR. These include the allocation of an implementation support grant amounting to €2m in total to be provided to all schools (in the Free Scheme) and the development of an action research pilot project on laboratory support assistants in schools. This project will be developed in consultation with relevant partners, including teacher unions and school management, to explore how it can best support teachers. My Department will also consider how digital support could operate in schools and how other subjects with practical components could be supported.

My Department has also supported schools in the Free Education Scheme in the introduction of the new science specifications through a once-off Science Implementation Support Grant based on school enrolment bands and DEIS status. Additional resources have also been provided to support the two new subjects in Tranche 1, Drama Film and Theatre Studies (DFTS) and Climate Action and Sustainable Development (CASD). This includes the supply of technical equipment to Phase One schools introducing DFTS, along with giving teachers access to prescribed materials and learning resources. A once-off grant of €5,000 was paid to Phase One schools introducing CASD. Additionally, all Phase One schools in the Free Education Scheme are being provided with an annual grant of €50 per student to support engagement with the new subjects. An additional temporary teaching allocation has also been provided to Phase One schools of 4 hours (or 0.2 WTE) for 2025/2026 academic year and 8 hours (0.4 WTE) for 2026/2027.

My Department is committed to supporting teachers, school leaders and learners as we progress through the tranches of SCR and will continue to engage with education partners through a range of fora to ensure the redevelopment of senior cycle responds to the needs of our stakeholders, including in terms of the provision of resources.