# Back To School

This month

September 2023

# Bus Eireann

Bus Éireann stands over ban on over-70s school bus drivers amid shortage

The school bus service is experiencing shortages of drivers as schools return for the academic year.

24.6k

Sep 6th 2023, 7:11 PM

# Bus Eireann

Driver shortages leave children without school bus for another week

Many parents who had paid for and received a ticket still don’t know whether there will be a space on a school bus for their child.

13.8k

Sep 4th 2023, 12:08 PM

# Weather

Warm weather for back to school, with temperatures up to 26 degrees

Tuesday will also be a warm day, with a few scattered showers.

18.4k

Sep 4th 2023, 8:45 AM

Last month

August 2023

# St Vincent de Paul

Over 250 parents contacted SVP every day last week about back-to-school costs

The charity is “hopeful” that the Government will make school books free at secondary level in the upcoming Budget.

8.0k

Aug 31st 2023, 6:45 AM

# Back To School

Government urged to extend school books grant to secondary schools

The move follows the publication of a Barnardos survey earlier today which found that 24% of secondary school parents had to take out a loan or borrow from friends to cover back to school costs.

9.3k

Aug 2nd 2023, 2:32 PM

This year

2023

# Department of Education

Random school checks to be carried out to determine use of new free schoolbooks scheme

Schools were allocated up to €930 each to compensate staff for the time spent managing the government scheme.

23.5k

Jul 8th 2023, 12:41 PM

# Back To School

Back to school: Costs going down but parents still going into debt

Parents have cut back significantly on extracurricular activities, while 13% are seeking loans to cover costs.

8.7k

Jul 5th 2023, 6:00 AM

Last year

2022

# Back To School

Free school books for primary school students in Budget education package

There has been widespread support for the announcement.

29.1k

Updated

Sep 26th 2022, 9:52 AM

# Back To School

St Vincent de Paul received 30 calls an hour from parents unable to meet back to school costs

Many parents are struggling to make ends meet.

10.6k

Aug 31st 2022, 3:08 PM

# Your Say

Poll: Have you noticed more traffic today?

Many schools are reopening today or later this week.

19.6k

Aug 31st 2022, 10:30 AM

Voices

Therapist: Back-to-school anxiety is real for many pupils this week - here's how you can help

Susi Lodola writes about what causes anxiety in children, how to identify it and what you parents and guardians can do to help.

20.2k

Updated

Aug 30th 2022, 1:42 PM

# Back To School

Difficulties in procuring extra buses and drivers for school transport scheme, says Foley

The Education Minister has said that there are plans to increase the capacity of the scheme amid unprecedented demand.

29.1k

Updated

Aug 29th 2022, 5:47 PM

# School Costs

Most parents concerned about cost of sending children back to school, survey says

The survey found that parents were concerned about the costs amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

10.8k

Jul 26th 2022, 6:00 AM

# Bonus

Bonus back-to-school payment to be brought forward and paid next week

It was due to be paid in August.

25.9k

Jul 11th 2022, 8:32 AM

# Back To School

Back to school costs: Parents spending €1,518 on average as Dáil hears calls for more action

The number of parents in debt over back to school costs has increased by 5% to 29%.

21.5k

Updated

Jul 6th 2022, 12:57 PM

# Back To School

School transport fees to be waived for the year as Government announce back-to-school package

The proposal is set to cost €67 million.

61.8k

Updated

Jul 5th 2022, 7:10 PM

# Cost of Living

'We've no way to buy cheaper uniforms': Parents facing price hikes ahead of new school term

Poverty campaigners and parents’ groups fear that back-to-school costs will be compounded this year by the cost-of-living crisis.

Poverty campaigners and parents’ groups frequently highlight the cost of going back to school every summer.

There are growing fears that the cost-of-living crisis will place an additional burden on parents, Emer Moreau writes.

17.3k

Jul 5th 2022, 6:30 AM

# Back To School

Schools set to re-open on Thursday as safety measures deemed 'effective and appropriate'

Each of the three main teaching unions continued to express concerns about staffing.

The Department of Education said there was no public health rationale to delay the reopening.

The ASTI has said that some classes may be prioritised if adequate teaching staff was not available.

The leaders of the three government coalition parties also met this afternoon and green lit the plans for schools.

199k

195

Updated

Jan 4th 2022, 9:55 PM

All time

# Back To School

Minister to meet with unions next week as 'plan is for schools to reopen'

The Christmas break will end for most schools next week.

39.2k

Dec 31st 2021, 4:57 PM

# Back To School

Education Minister rejects accusation of ‘complacency’ over return of schools

Some opposition politicians were critical of what they labelled “confusing” guidance for when pupils are designated as close contacts.

18.6k

Sep 21st 2021, 8:22 PM

# Back To School

Q&A: The latest Covid-19 protocols for secondary schools as students return to classes

Students across the country have been returning to school this week.

18.3k

Aug 28th 2021, 8:30 AM

# St Vincent de Paul

Hundreds of struggling parents call SVP everyday as back-to-school costs bite

The charity said the cost of iPads and tablets is a particular cause of concern.

20.1k

Aug 26th 2021, 10:01 PM

# Back To School

832 outbreaks of Covid-19 in schools since last August, HSE reports

More than 46,000 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in children and teenagers up to July.

16.7k

Aug 23rd 2021, 8:50 AM

# Back To School

Most parents believe children will require additional supports when back to school - survey

63% were concerned about their children’s emotional development and 51% were concerned about social skills.

12.0k

Jul 28th 2021, 11:10 AM

# Back To School

New Covid variants 'do not change' the measures needed in schools, Foley says

The department is planning for a “full reopening” of schools in August/September.

14.1k

Jul 27th 2021, 4:43 PM

# Back To School

Minister seeks to 'reassure parents' that a full reopening of schools is planned

Minister Norma Foley said the return of children to the classroom for the new school term is a priority.

35.0k

Jul 25th 2021, 3:33 PM

# Back To School

Parents spending almost €1,500 a year sending children to secondary school - survey

The average debt parents find themselves in is €336.

14.2k

Jul 15th 2021, 6:10 AM

# Back To School

Remaining secondary students to return to school on 12 April

The last phase of the reopening will see first to fourth-year students return to in-person learning.

17.5k

Mar 26th 2021, 7:52 PM

# Back To School

Schools: Phased reopening begins as Education Minister says antigen testing has not yet been recommended

Sixth years and young primary school students are among those who returned to school today.

36.2k

Updated

Mar 1st 2021, 1:53 PM

# test and trace

Close-contact positivity something 'we really need to watch' as schools return

The so-called UK variant now accounts for about 92% of cases in this country.

25.7k

Updated

Feb 26th 2021, 2:27 PM

# Back To School

Cabinet sub-committee gives green light for phased reopening of schools in March and April

It’s understood it’s likely there will be little easing of restrictions until May.

88.1k

Updated

Feb 18th 2021, 7:45 PM

# Back To School

More than 4,000 children and teachers tested for Covid-19 since schools opened

HSE CEO Paul Reid said there have been 180 index cases, with a further 84 linked to those.

22.9k

Sep 29th 2020, 12:43 PM

# School Transport

Over 3,000 students turned down for school bus tickets, according to new figures

TD Mattie McGrath said that the ‘archaic’ system was facing a worrying backlog.

23.1k

Sep 10th 2020, 7:45 AM

# Schools

'It's a huge risk': Pregnant teaching staff say they've been left in the dark over the return of schools

Many teachers complain they’ve received little guidance or assurances about how pregnant staff will be looked after.

53.2k

Aug 30th 2020, 12:05 AM

# Back To School

Is your child worried about going to school? An expert has some tips for parents

Many children, and parents, are anxious about schools reopening.

13.9k

Aug 27th 2020, 6:15 AM

# Back To School

'For the love of God': Anger as shed to be used as Covid-19 isolation room at Athlone school

The school’s principal said the situation is “not ideal”.

56.7k

162

Updated

Aug 26th 2020, 3:03 PM

# Back To School

'It's up to everyone to try their best to get this right': Inside a Wicklow school preparing to reopen

We paid a socially distant visit to St Kevin’s Community College in Dunlavin.

16.2k

Aug 25th 2020, 8:00 PM

# Covid-19

Return to school: Two-thirds of principals say they have teachers with underlying health issues

Second-level schools should delay reopening if they can’t implement social distancing, according to the TUI.

62.0k

130

Updated

Aug 25th 2020, 11:53 AM

# new normal

New cough, stay at home. Runny nose, attend school: HSE releases new advice for parents

The advice notes that: “Every year, schoolchildren get colds, flu and other infections”.

179k

Aug 24th 2020, 6:28 PM

# Back To School

NI schools to re-open today despite concerns from teachers about Covid-19

The North’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride has insisted it is safe to return.

13.5k

Aug 24th 2020, 7:00 AM