The Thorn report makes 36 findings on issues at UL, but it will take another review in a few years to see if they’ve been tackled, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray.

The country’s first fitness-to-teach inquiry is due to commence at the Teaching Council today.

Higher Leaving Certificate standards to get into teacher training degrees should not rule out huge numbers of students, a union has said.

Colleges plan to offer places to around a dozen students whose applications to become primary teachers were turned down in August, thanks to the retrospective easing of entry requirements by Education Minister Richard Bruton.

Schools that receive funds to feed students will be barred from serving meals that are high in sugar, salt, and fat under new rules to be announced today.

The Government still plans to merge the USC with PRSI and alter tax levels for low-and middle-income earners despite Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin warning there is not enough money to do both and that it breaches the minority government deal.

The Department of Education has saved close to €230m since 2011 by putting new entrants to teaching on lower pay than their colleagues.

The results of almost 62,000 Junior Certificate students are being collected today as part of what is a historic change to Irish education.

The results of almost 62,000 Junior Certificate students are being collected today as part of what is a historic change to Irish education.

Latest: The Education Minister Richard Bruton says the Government continues to have confidence in the Garda Commissioner, Nóirín O'Sullivan, despite recent Garda scandals.

The president of the University of Limerick has said there is “no evidence of anything illegal” in any of the allegations against the university.

Only two asylum seekers qualified last year for third-level grant support under a Government scheme designed to assist young people in the protection system.

Rising employment and income levels have seen grant applications drop, despite funding being available again for postgraduate students this year.

Employers and unions agree that ringfencing a portion of corporate tax or business profits could be a better way to bolster higher education funding than a government proposal to increase employers’ PRSI.

A 1% levy on corporate profits could secure most of the €600m needed to bridge third-level funding gaps, a teachers’ union claims.

Employers could see the amount they contribute to a national training fund almost double by 2020 in a Government plan to raise an extra €200m a year for third-level education.

Homemakers and working people are to be eligible for free job-specific college courses previously targeted at the unemployed.

School facilities will be leased out by bishops and religious orders instead of fully transferred to new non-religious patrons, under Education Minister Richard Bruton’s plan to speed up the widening of choice for parents.

The race has begun to arrange replacement staff to limit how long over 500 second-level schools will be forced to close due to industrial action by teachers next month.

Plans to prevent the possible closure of secondary schools by teachers’ industrial action are being finalised by Education Minister Richard Bruton’s officials and school managers.

The National Council for Special Education has had no board since the previous 13-member board’s term ended at the end of last year.

Any move to introduce coding to the primary maths programme would require proper staff training and equipment for schools, a teachers’ union said.

School buildings may stay open for after-class care in a new strategy being developed by the Education Minister Richard Bruton.

Education groups are being invited to respond to issues around schools and skills development in the Programme for Government.

Fresh efforts are being made to provide educational choice for more families following the Programme for Government plan for 400 non-religious schools.