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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Department of Education has confirmed an exercise by the National Council for Special Education, carried out at the start of the school year, recorded 782 vacancies in special classes attached to mainstream schools.</p>

news

Department figures of 800 vacant places in special classes at odds with lived realities of children, parents say

Advocates say hundreds of children are left without a school place every year

<p class="contextmenu internal_Caption">Between first and sixth class, the school curriculum dedicates two hours each week to religious education, which in each individual school matches the beliefs of its patron. In Catholic schools, this takes the form of ‘faith formation’ and focuses on Catholic teachings. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit">Picture: Getty</span>
</p>

comment-analysis

Parents are being asked three simple questions about what they want from primary schools

<p>The majority of primary schools in Ireland remain under Catholic patronage, despite moves in recent years to increase the number of non-denominational schools.</p>

news

Parents of primary school children to have their say on religious instruction and co-education

A crucifix on a book against the background of a chalkboard

news

School religious discrimination may still be happening despite law

Rosary in Girl's hands

news

State to compile data on number of children who opt out of religious instruction in primary schools

Little 7 years schoolboy going to school.

munster

Suspensions ‘crisis’ at flagship special school in Cork

'The secretaries and caretakers are not for stopping,' says Fórsa from protest at Taoiseach’s Cork office

'The secretaries and caretakers are not for stopping,' says Fórsa from protest at Taoiseach’s Cork office

The withdrawal of their labour is already pushing some schools to the brink of closure

Fri, 05 Sep, 2025

Fórsa: 'No credible reason' for Government delay on school staff strike resolution

Fórsa: 'No credible reason' for Government delay on school staff strike resolution

Fórsa urges Government to end the nationwide strike by school secretaries and caretakers, warning schools are struggling without essential support staff

Thu, 04 Sep, 2025

Meals on Wheels should provide school lunches as suppliers withdraw from scheme - TD

Meals on Wheels should provide school lunches as suppliers withdraw from scheme - TD

Cork South West TD Michael Collins said: 'Meals on Wheels are already out on the road every single day, delivering to elderly people across rural Ireland. They are certified, professional, and up to the highest standards.

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

Third day of pickets by school secretaries and caretakers

Third day of pickets by school secretaries and caretakers

Union rep said Fórsa was heartened by the support from school communities but disappointed by the lack of action from the Government

Mon, 01 Sep, 2025

Woman listening music with her mobile phone in first snow

Local radio stations ask young listeners to help them record sounds of nature in Ireland

16 local radio stations will consult with schools and youth groups on the collaboration with climate scientists at Harvard and Copenhagen universities

Sun, 31 Aug, 2025

Dublin city centre incident

Parents fight relocation plan after stabbing incident outside Dublin City school

Parents at Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire say relocation will compound trauma from 2023 stabbing incident, stressing routine and stability are vital

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

Parents in Youghal campaign for new type of school for autistic children

Parents in Youghal campaign for new type of school for autistic children

Bridging the Gap Youghal estimates there are almost 100 pupils attending autism classes in primary schools across the East Cork and West Waterford region

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Royal High School

'Little evidence' of improved exam performance or retention rates in first ten years of Deis

Analysis of the first 10 years of the programme for disadvantaged schools found little to no effect on Junior Certificate achievement, or on progression to Leaving Cert

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Chicken nuggets and other 'cheat foods' banished from school meals

Chicken nuggets and other 'cheat foods' banished from school meals

A dietitian has been recruited to improve Ireland's hot school meals programme, and the junk food ban will be in place before the start of the school year

Mon, 11 Aug, 2025

Little boy or child sitting alone on floor in front of the school after suffering an act of bullying

Investigation of historic child sexual abuse will now include all schools

Helen McEntee told the Dáil the commission of investigation will have the power to compel witnesses and documents

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Cost of living crisis

'I hate asking parents for money': Primary schools struggle amid the cost-of-living crisis

School principals in Limerick and Louth tell Jess Casey the forthcoming capitation grant rise will not be enough amid surging prices of everything from utilities to insurance

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

West Cork island seeks new head teacher — and more children to help keep its school open

West Cork island seeks new head teacher — and more children to help keep its school open

Cape Clear is wooing young families to help boost enrolment at its primary school, while also advertising for a new head teacher as well as a new tourism manager

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

School stock

'We need realistic funding for schools': Parents face hike in 'voluntary' contributions

Rising costs that have been 'turbo-charged' by post-pandemic inflation, has left many primary schools struggling

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

vape, multicolored electronic cigarettes for smoking with different flavors on a white background

Vaping has led a surge of young people using nicotine/tobacco products

The number of young people vaping or smoking has surged by 10 percentage points to 30% in just a decade

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Woman who claimed she was hurt as pupil in schoolyard fall loses case

Woman who claimed she was hurt as pupil in schoolyard fall loses case

High Court judge Mr Justice Paul Coffey noted 'inconsistencies and inaccuracies' in the complainant's evidence

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Pensive child

Cork crime: With ambition and vision, we can upend this cycle of disadvantage and harm

On the final day of the Cork Crime series, Katherine Harford writes that investing in a 'village' of supports would address the harms blighting some parts of the city more than others

Wed, 25 Jun, 2025

'You have to smile': Lollipop person of the year enjoys the craic with all his little charges

'You have to smile': Lollipop person of the year enjoys the craic with all his little charges

Youghal lollipop man, retired firefighter Ger Gleeson, jokes that his win might be the start of a double with Cork's senior hurlers

Mon, 23 Jun, 2025

Ballymena Protest

Absence rates spike at schools closest to Ballymena disorder

Paul Givan said 84 newcomer children at Harryville Primary School have not been attending, while attendance is at around 65% at St Patrick’s College

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Teenage Students Using Digital Devices On College Campus

No post-primary phone ban — but schools will be asked to help restrict their use

Primary schools will fully ban smartphones, while post-primary schools are asked to create tailored phone-free policies

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

High school students doing exam in classroom

Deis plan to emphasise retention of students up to Leaving Cert and beyond

Education minister Helen McEntee will update Cabinet on her work to establish a new Deis+ scheme to support schools with the highest level of educational disadvantage

Tue, 20 May, 2025

McEntee details measures to tackle 'hugely alarming' school absenteeism

McEntee details measures to tackle 'hugely alarming' school absenteeism

Over 110,000 primary and 65,000 secondary students missed 20 or more days of school in the 2022/2023 school year

Mon, 19 May, 2025

ANN HIGGINS

Why school can be the best medicine for children in hospital

Teaching sick children in hospital is not without its unique challenges, writes Sarah Horgan

Tue, 13 May, 2025

School stock

Autism charity welcomes moves to tackle special class policies which block children with greatest needs

Charity AsIAm said report by the Department of Education’s Inspectorate confirmed school admission policies 'disproportionately affect autistic students with higher levels of support needs'

Thu, 08 May, 2025

Special educational needs survey

Free online toolkit aims to combat 'chronic' absenteeism in schools

School avoidance is now a 'noticeable issue' across the country

Mon, 31 Mar, 2025

Survivors want proper memorial to people buried in Cork 'mass grave'

Survivors want proper memorial to people buried in Cork 'mass grave'

Dozens who died in psychiatric hospitals, industrial schools, and mother and baby homes are buried in unmarked graves in fenced-off plot in Curraghkippane cemetery

Mon, 10 Mar, 2025

PARENTS PROTEST

Lack of special school places down to ministers failing to use law that 'has been on the books for years'

The shortage could be solved in 18 months under Section 37a legislation, Cork autism class coordinator Graham Manning believes

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

Common application system for children applying for special schools to be introduced

Common application system for children applying for special schools to be introduced

Minister for Education Helen McEntee said the move has the potential to be a 'game changer' for parents

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Ireland stock

Gardaí probe whether boy spoken to after Clare schools 'mass shootings' email was hacked

It is understood that the boy claims he is a victim of a hack, and gardaí are examining if his gaming platform was remotely accessed by someone to send the malicious message

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

Education stock

Teachers fear poor facilities, class sizes, and stigma are holding back Deis schools

While 62% of teachers in TUI/Tasc survey highlight positive impacts of Deis, many also point to issues from poor classroom facilities to a lack of transparency in resource allocation

Mon, 10 Feb, 2025

Royal High School

Number of students using artificial intelligence for Leaving Cert project work 'alarming'

Survey also found sixth-year students concerned about housing and cost of living, with more than half likely to emigrate after college

Tue, 04 Feb, 2025

Human rights watchdog asks State exams body to review provisions for visually impaired students

Human rights watchdog asks State exams body to review provisions for visually impaired students

The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has asked the SEC to look at the provision of accessible modified papers, additional time arrangements, and digital paper delivery to candidates with a visual impairment

Wed, 15 Jan, 2025

child abuse4

Teachers 'unprepared to deal with pupils' mental health woes'

Lack of training and qualifications leads some school staff to find mental health support difficult or overwhelming, study shows

Sun, 05 Jan, 2025

School stock

Outcry after primary school tells parents pupils 'required' to attend all religious ceremonies

Children should not be forced to attend religious ceremonies against their will, campaigner says

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

'My Message to the next Dáil' podcast: Jennifer Horgan on supports teachers and students need in our schools

'My Message to the next Dáil' podcast: Jennifer Horgan on supports teachers and students need in our schools

In this episode, we also took to the streets to gauge the opinions of people on how the next Government can support teachers, students, and schools

Listen | Mon, 18 Nov, 2024

Bay Area School Bayside Academy Has Phone Free Space

Minister claims Sinn Féin 'misled the Dáil' on €9m school phone pouches issue

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that Sinn Féin are 'desperately grasping at straws'

Thu, 07 Nov, 2024

Teenagers students using smartphone on a school break

Controversial phone pouches for schools will cost €2m a year to maintain

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the Government rejected 'three free alternatives' for dealing with mobile phones in schools that would not have cost the taxpayer 'a single red cent'

Wed, 06 Nov, 2024

Bay Area School Bayside Academy Has Phone Free Space

€9m phone pouches plan for schools 'cost effective', department briefing claims

A Department of Education document said phone pouches avoided mobiles being put 'on display' in schools which could be divisive for pupils over who had the most expensive or up-to-date device

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

School stock

Body in charge of curriculum hits back at claims it is introducing 'divisive ideologies' in primary schools

Parents concerned about changes to sex education and how schools are protecting children around issues of 'sexual identity', Dáil committee told

Tue, 05 Nov, 2024

Male and female teenagers in secondary classroom

Union calls for more teachers and reduced class sizes in election manifesto

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) is also calling for training programmes to be rolled out for all who teach children with additional needs

Mon, 04 Nov, 2024

General Election Ireland 2024

Survivors of physical abuse in schools cannot be 'ignored or unheard', says Taoiseach

Despite millions of children attending school during the years corporal punishment was in place, the Department of Education holds just 117 records of physical abuse of children by teachers

Thu, 31 Oct, 2024

Two engineers installing solar panels on roof.

Up to 4,000 schools eligible for free solar panels to slash energy bills

The Solar for Schools programme has now been extended to an additional 16 counties, reaching all primary, post-primary, and special schools in Ireland

Wed, 30 Oct, 2024

Extremist views widespread in England's classrooms, say teachers

Teachers' union to ballot members on industrial action 'up to and including strike action'

TUI said the move comes over what it described as 'unacceptable unilateral changes that increase workload, change the established practices and depart from the terms of collective agreements'

Thu, 24 Oct, 2024

Royal High School

Visually impaired students find school 'a difficult and isolating experience', Dáil committee told

Blind and visually impaired students blocked from attending school trips and discouraged from doing transition year, education committee hears

Tue, 15 Oct, 2024

Two engineers installing solar panels on roof.

Schools to be given funding to install solar panels in bid to reduce emissions and energy costs

Funding approval granted to more than 1,100 schools as part of first phase of programme

Mon, 14 Oct, 2024