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Education

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Department of Education and Youth has yet to deliver on promised training and planning time for the redeveloped curriculum, while many small rural schools are increasingly left to fend for themselves. File picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire</p>

comment-analysis

Convention can be cornerstone for teachers shaping future generations

As the National Education Convention gets under way, INTO president Anne Horan looks at the urgent need to address issues relating to disadvantage and inclusion in schools

<p>The four-year Graduate Entry to Medicine course in UCD costs €18,880 per year for EU/Irish students, while non-EU students pay €63,810 per year. In UCC, it is €15,500 and €56,000, respectively. File picture</p>

news

Students either accrue six-figure debt or work three jobs to pursue medical degree

<p>One of the characters who took part in the Carnival of Collective Joy in Carlow College during the Carlow Arts Festival. Our school systems still operate as if maths and science sit above arts and humanities in the hierarchy of learning.</p>

comment-analysis

Children's creativity shouldn’t be left to a once-a-year celebration

Parent comforting helping sad emotional child at home, concept of bullying, stress disappointment, sadness.

comment-analysis

'All the advice about having rhythms and routines — none made any difference' for child avoiding school

There’s a ‘sense of belonging, fun, possibility, and excitement’ in Cork’s Field of Dreams

munster

There’s a ‘sense of belonging, fun, possibility, and excitement’ in Cork’s Field of Dreams

Special educational needs and disabilities survey

politics

Mother of child with Down syndrome had to move homes to be near school with special class

School stock

Jennifer Horgan: Two adults in a classroom makes sense in this day and age

A classroom works seamlessly when there is another adult in the room. It could be a team teacher, something increasingly common in countries like Austria, Denmark, and Italy, with positive results

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Children learning in a school classroom

Special school pupils have yet to get a full day of classes since November

Minister of state for disability Emer Higgins stated it was 'fantastic to see this wonderful special school up and running' despite the pupils missing out on eight hours of classes a week

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

Parents devastated as special classes for children with additional needs delayed until 2027

Parents devastated as special classes for children with additional needs delayed until 2027

Twelve children with additional needs receive just two hours of daily education as planned Finglas special classes face delays

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

AI prompt chat bot. Search website to generate data, text or image. Man using computer with artificial intelligence app. Virtual

Call for clarification after webinar says teachers could suggest students use AI for creative tasks

At the teacher training webinar, the use of AI was suggested three times to compose a poem, song or rap in the Leaving Cert Applied subject English and Communication

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

A round peg forced into a square system: The reality facing one Cork special school

A round peg forced into a square system: The reality facing one Cork special school

Carrigaline Community Special School highlights the consequences of opening new schools without the therapy and resources students need

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Rosary in Girl's hands

The 'choice' not to practice religion is a myth in Irish education

There is a striking irony in how Irish people discuss America’s freefall into theocracy, undergirded by a rise in Christian nationalism — we treat it like fascism, while blithely ignoring our own almost entirely doctrinal education system

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Minister meets parents over concerns at Cork special school

Minister meets parents over concerns at Cork special school

On Monday, a mother spent the day outside the school after her son, 11, was refused entry as it reopened. In correspondence received on Monday evening, Fiona O'Leary, from Killeens, was told that the move was deemed a 'suspension'

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Mother spent day outside Cork special school after son, 11, refused entry

Mother spent day outside Cork special school after son, 11, refused entry

Fiona O’Leary from Killeens said her son, who turned 11 on Sunday, was refused entry when she went to drop him off at Carrigaline Community Special School

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

'We end up giving them to our dogs' — Flood of complaints about quality of hot school meals

'We end up giving them to our dogs' — Flood of complaints about quality of hot school meals

Correspondence from parents seen by the 'Irish Examiner' lays out a litany of complaints from 'out of date meals' to 'incorrect allergen information'

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Symbols of religion : bread and wine

David O'Mahony: Reaching milestones reminds me time is what you make of it

Small people have their own way of interpreting the universe and, most of the time, it’s a lot more interesting than what we’ve collectively — if grudgingly — agreed constitutes adulthood

Sat, 07 Mar, 2026

A child using smart phone lying in bed

'Every day a dozen principals call us about the harm of social media on schoolchildren'

Teachers warn social media bullying is relentless, with children unable to escape harassment online even after the school day ends

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

Football Training Celebrations

Kids' activities are starting to feel like a cult — I'm out

Instead of packing our children's schedule with activities, maybe we could allow them some time out for themselves, writes Laurie Morrissey

Fri, 06 Mar, 2026

School stock

School set to reopen after repairs address safety concerns

Parents told the school will reopen after around 40 contractors were brought on site to carry out repairs

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

NCSE chief apologises for handling of 'botched' SNA review

NCSE chief apologises for handling of 'botched' SNA review

The chief executive of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has apologised for the handling of a "botched" review of how special needs assistants are allocated which causes uproar among parents and educators.

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Closure of Cork special school must be 'catalyst for necessary change'

Closure of Cork special school must be 'catalyst for necessary change'

The school, which is in the Taoiseach’s constituency, is expected to reopen on March 9 following an incident on February 26 in which staff sustained injuries

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Back to school shopping

Kildare primary school closes temporarily over fire and structural safety concerns

Board moves to close 19-year-old prefab school building following fire safety and structural compliance concerns

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Will the great educational talking shop result in a plan or just more homework?

Will the great educational talking shop result in a plan or just more homework?

Every challenge we face comes from a lack of investment. When is the Government going to act on that?

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Mid adult professor teaching a lecture from desktop PC at computer lab.

One in five schools dropped a subject due to teacher recruitment crisis, TUI survey finds

Widespread vacancies leave schools reliant on student teachers, with key subjects hardest hit by staffing shortages

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Cork special school shuts to work through 'issues' including dysregulation of students and injuries to staff

Cork special school shuts to work through 'issues' including dysregulation of students and injuries to staff

School to reopen on Monday, March 9, after closing last Friday following incident during which staff members were injured

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Education minister cancels St Patrick's Day visit to South America amid SNA controversy

Education minister cancels St Patrick's Day visit to South America amid SNA controversy

Hildegarde Naughton was expected to travel to Chile and Argentina but as confirmed she will not now travel

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

Special needs assistants protest

SNA protests: ‘My son suffers the same whether it’s a redeployment or a cut’

While the number of special needs assistants has grown, so too has the need for such posts, writes Education Correspondent Jess Casey

Listen | Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

Education stock

'Looming crisis' as potential for hundreds of special school places missing for September

Surging demand for special classes and uncertainty over SNA funding spark fears hundreds could miss out on appropriate placements

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

NORMA FOLEY TD; MINISTER FOLEY; CHILDREN DISABILITY AND EQUALITY

68 applications for scheme to develop eight childcare facilities across country

There is no indication where the eight facilities will be located as part of the multimillion-euro scheme

Thu, 26 Feb, 2026

SNA anger 'loud and clear', protesters warn Government

SNA anger 'loud and clear', protesters warn Government

Protests took place across the country, including outside Leinster House in Dublin, Cork City Hall, and Merchant’s Quay in Limerick

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

School stock

Only time will tell if SNA retention is permanent

By finding an extra €19m the Government has shown it can put its money where its mouth is in the face of public outcry

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Micheal Martin comments

Government 'never signed off on' SNA reductions, claims Taoiseach

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said the U-turn raised further questions

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Ciara Reilly: Power shift behind SNA U-turn exposes Government's weakness

Ciara Reilly: Power shift behind SNA U-turn exposes Government's weakness

The Government’s climbdown on SNA allocations reveals fragile leadership, weak reform planning, and deep mistrust in special education policy

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Irish Budget 2024

Government rejects claim it is 'kicking can down the road' after SNA U-turn

€19m will be provided to allow for extra allocations without cutting back in other schools, Government confirmed on Monday night

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

No reductions to special needs assistants for next school year

No reductions to special needs assistants for next school year

Government leaders agreed all schools reviewed by the NCSE and allocated additional resources will receive SNAs in the upcoming school year

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Review of the 125th Infantry Battalion

Irish Examiner view: Gaps in security make for worrying reading

It is four years this month since the commission issued its report, a roadmap for transforming the Defence Forces and equipping it with capability to meet current and anticipated security challenges

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

Teacher Reading a Book to Students

Study examines childhood influences that affect education and finances later in life

The Growing Up in Ireland study found that children of parents who were well off at the age of nine reported far higher rates of finding it easy to make ends meet by the age of 25 than those who grew up in poorer households

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

Late Night Study

Accommodation crisis: Colleges to be asked to cut number of days students must be on campus

Government to ask third-level institutions to condense students’ time on campus to minimise the number of commuting days

Mon, 23 Feb, 2026

School stock

Mick Clifford: In the SNA storm, who is really standing up for children with greatest needs?

A botched review of SNA allocations has exposed deeper flaws in how Ireland targets special education resources

Sun, 22 Feb, 2026

School stock

SNA cuts protests planned in Cork, Dublin, Limerick and Galway as review paused

Demonstrations planned nationwide as ministers face mounting pressure to guarantee SNA supports for children with additional needs in September

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

SNA cuts: Why Irish schools say special education support is being undermined

SNA cuts: Why Irish schools say special education support is being undermined

Despite record national staffing levels, schools warn SNA allocation cuts and delayed autism classes are undermining inclusive education

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Woman, nurse or student writing with book for internship, studying or research at med school. Female person, healthcare candidat

The HPAT has turned out to be a failure. Back to the Leaving Cert

If being able to assess information and make important decisions in a timely fashion in a pressurised environment is not preparation for a career in medicine, what is?

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

Labour accuses Government of causing 'fear and distress' as SNA review dominates Dáil debate

Labour accuses Government of causing 'fear and distress' as SNA review dominates Dáil debate

Also, anger is continuing to grow in Fianna Fáil, with the issue dominating its parliamentary party meeting this week

Wed, 18 Feb, 2026

School stock

Ciara Reilly: Definition of need has changed to save money on SNAs

Pause to planned special needs assistant allocation review feels neither reassuring nor meaningful. We’ll be here again unless big changes happen, writes teacher Ciara Reilly

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

'No cuts to SNA numbers': Controversial review paused following backlash

'No cuts to SNA numbers': Controversial review paused following backlash

Education minister Hildegarde Naughton confirmed in a statement that there will be 'no cuts to SNA numbers'

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

'It’s simply not possible': Cork principal hits out at SNA cuts

'It’s simply not possible': Cork principal hits out at SNA cuts

Education Correspondent Jess Casey hears from parents and teachers about their fears amid NCSE review of special needs assistants

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

'Flabbergasting' move to cut SNAs in schools 'will set education back 30 years'

'Flabbergasting' move to cut SNAs in schools 'will set education back 30 years'

Parents and teachers respond to 'mystifying' cutback on special needs assistants following NCSE review

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

Inclusive Cork school left waiting for autism classes — as parents fund new sensory space

Inclusive Cork school left waiting for autism classes — as parents fund new sensory space

Scoil Eoin in Ballincollig has yet to get funds for three autism spectrum disorder classes already sanctioned by the NCSE

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Almost 200 schools to face SNA cuts in September, education minister confirms

Almost 200 schools to face SNA cuts in September, education minister confirms

Fórsa raised concerns after dozens of mainstream schools were told last week of a reduction in their allocations of SNAs

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Teacher at work

Teacher accused of using false qualifications and experience in 25 job applications in Cork

The inquiry heard the teacher had only obtained a score of 12 out of 140 at an interview for a job with St Aidan’s Community College in Cork

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026