The Department of Education and Youth publishes Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in Schools to support teachers and school leaders in using AI for teaching and learning.
The new guidance for Irish schools draws on best practice form UNESCO and the European Union and was published alongside Oide Technology in Education (TiE). The guidance aims to support teachers and school leaders with:
- planning for AI integration in teaching and learning,
- ensuring safe, ethical and appropriate use of AI,
- outlining key factors and resources for successful integration,
- encouraging informed-decision making on AI tools and practices.
The guidance provides explanations of AI and generative AI, discussing the benefits and risks – as well as ethical approaches and challenges to its use. To make the guide practical, the department has included examples from schools of current uses of AI and given schools an AI Roadmap. Additionally, Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, has shared that the document will be continuously updated and ‘take into consideration national and international studies, evaluation and input from educational stakeholders.’
The AI roadmap for schools
The Department recommends a 4P approach schools can use to create a framework for AI implementation (alongside using resources from Oide TiE such as their online introductory courses to support staff knowledge):
- Purpose: Establish a clear purpose by identifying specific needs and challenges.
- Planning: Ensure the implementation of AI aligns with the school’s digital learning plan (a plan required for schools to be in the grant scheme for IT infrastructure).
- Policies: Schools must ensure policies explicitly address ethical, legal and operational considerations of AI.
- Practice: For effective use of AI, schools must maintain the central role of the teacher, ensure to safeguard student wellbeing and align use with the curriculum, so AI can optimise the student experience.
“AI has emerged as one of the more transformative digital technologies, with the potential to transform how we engage with technology across all aspects of our lives. It is essential that our school communities have access to the information needed to support them in understanding the opportunities it offers, as well as the challenges associated with its use.” – Minister McEntee.
Learn more about the new guidance.
Read the Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in Schools.
References
- Eurydice (2025) ‘Ireland: Guidance on artificial intelligence in education for teaching and learning’. Available at: https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/news/ireland-guidance-artificial-intelligence-education-teaching-and-learning (Accessed: 9th December 2025).
- Department of Education and Youth (2025) ‘Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in Schools’ Available at: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/dee23cad/Guidance_on_Artificial_Intelligence_in_Schools_2025.pdf (Accessed: 9th December 2025)
