Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan has urged people to join her in voting yes in the upcoming same sex marriage referendum.

Fee-paying schools have been lobbying the Government to allow them keep places for the children of past pupils, according to Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

A greater shake-up of school admissions rules is needed, opposition TDs have warned.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan could face Cabinet pressure and campaigning from schools as she plans to put much tighter limits than previously proposed on the number of places schools can reserve for past pupils’ children.

New assessment methods for junior cert students are to be covered in training which Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan plans to take place next month despite an ongoing union ban on 27,000 teachers attending.