Source
Department of Education and Youth & Oide Technology in Education, October 2025
Summary
This national guidance document provides Irish schools with a framework for the safe, ethical, and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI (GenAI), in teaching, learning, and school leadership. It aims to support informed decision-making, enhance digital competence, and align AI use with Ireland’s Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027. The guidance recognises AI’s potential to support learning design, assessment, and communication while emphasising human oversight, teacher professionalism, and data protection.
It presents a balanced view of benefits and risks—AI can personalise learning and streamline administration but also raises issues of bias, misinformation, data privacy, and environmental impact. The report introduces a 4P framework—Purpose, Planning, Policies, and Practice—to guide schools in integrating AI responsibly. Teachers are encouraged to use GenAI as a creative aid, not a substitute, and to embed AI literacy in curricula. The document stresses the need for ethical awareness, alignment with GDPR and the EU AI Act (2024), and continuous policy updates as technology evolves.
Key Points
- AI should support, not replace, human-led teaching and learning.
- Responsible use requires human oversight, verification, and ethical reflection.
- AI literacy for teachers, students, and leaders is central to safe adoption.
- Compliance with GDPR and the EU AI Act ensures privacy and transparency.
- GenAI tools must be age-appropriate and used within consent frameworks.
- Bias, misinformation, and “hallucinations” demand critical human review.
- The 4P Approach (Purpose, Planning, Policies, Practice) structures school-level implementation.
- Environmental and wellbeing impacts must be considered in AI use.
- Collaboration between the Department, Oide, and schools underpins future updates.
- Guidance will be continuously revised to reflect evolving practice and research.
Conclusion
The guidance frames AI as a powerful but high-responsibility tool in education. By centring ethics, human agency, and data protection, schools can harness AI’s potential while safeguarding learners’ wellbeing, trust, and equity. Its iterative, values-led approach ensures Ireland’s education system remains adaptive, inclusive, and future-ready.
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