Obituary: Niamh Bhreathnach dedicated her life to combatting education disadvantage

Ms Bhreathnach was the Labour Party minister responsible for the abolition of third-level fees in the 1990s

Drawing on her experience as a remedial teacher in inner city Dublin, Niamh Bhreathnach brought forward such programmes as “Breaking the Cycle” and “Early Start”.

Walking through the corridors of Leinster House this week, one heard frequent mentions of the late Niamh Bhreathnach and the legacy she left in Irish politics.

Most remembered for the abolition of third-level fees, Ms Bhreathnach, who died on Monday aged 77, dedicated her public life to combatting educational disadvantage.