Primary School Debates

The Concern Primary Debates are run in conjunction with Education Support Centres across Ireland, and this year the debates will run both online and in person. We have free downloadable resources to get your class started below.

The Concern Primary Debates is open to senior primary classes. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at primarydebates@concern.net and a Concern member of staff will be in touch with further information.

Please note that all registrations are handled by Education Support Centres - not Concern Worldwide. Please see below for participating centres to register your team.  

Check out our video which will guide you through the Concern Primary Debates Programme!

We've created links and workshops to help students and teachers preparing for the Concern Primary Debates with their research on each motion..

Below are the motions for the 2025/2026 academic year. Your local Education Support Centre will advise you on which motions you are debating and whether your team will be proposing or opposing the motion. 

The motions for 2025/26 are:

• Social media should be banned for under 16s​

• Weekends should be 3 days long​

• Fines are the best way to tackle textile waste​

• Tourism does more harm than good​

• Universal internet access should be the world’s top goal in 2026​

• In 10 years time, no country should be using fossil fuels