# Department of Education

This month

January 2023

# Ukraine

Number of Ukrainian students enrolled in Irish schools has almost doubled since May

Schools in Dublin, Kerry and Cork have enrolled the most students.

14.0k

Jan 2nd 2023, 6:15 AM

Last month

December 2022

# the High Court

Jailed teacher Enoch Burke to be released from prison despite not purging contempt

In his ruling, Mr Justice O’Moore said ‘it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that Burke was exploiting his imprisonment for his own ends’.

64.3k

Updated Dec 21st 2022, 6:33 PM

# teacher shortages

Career breaks for teachers may be suspended in response to staff shortages

Schools have come under pressure due to unfilled job vacancies and teacher shortages.

28.7k

Dec 6th 2022, 6:51 PM

Last year

2022

# holy land

The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are religious property proceeds going to redress?

Noteworthy’s Maria Delaney tells Susan Daly about how over €90 million worth of properties were sold.

7.2k

Aug 30th 2022, 5:45 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Religious orders involved in redress sold properties totalling €90 million since 2016

A report by

Maria Delaney

Investigation by Noteworthy finds these congregations paid €27m to the State in redress during this time.

Investigation by Noteworthy finds these congregations paid €27m to the State in redress during this time

70% - or just under €250m - of redress for institutional child abuse now paid by congregations

Mother and baby institution survivor: "I have no expectations... It’s cold, hard business."

42.4k

Aug 29th 2022, 12:05 AM

# 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.

17.2k

Jul 5th 2022, 6:30 AM

# War in Ukraine

Nearly 7,000 Ukrainian students enrolled in Irish schools

Nearly 1,000 children and teens have enrolled in schools here since mid May.

16.2k

Jun 6th 2022, 6:00 AM

# Ukraine

Nearly 6,000 Ukrainian children and teens enrolled in Irish schools

The Department will continue to publish figures on the enrolment of Ukrainian children each month.

13.6k

May 16th 2022, 6:00 AM

# Storm eunice

Schools, colleges and childcare services in nine counties to close tomorrow due to storm warnings

Schools in Clare, Cork, Kerry, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Waterford and Roscommon will be closed.

150k

Feb 17th 2022, 1:38 PM

# leaving cert 2022

Over two-thirds of students want hybrid Leaving Cert this year

There were over 40,900 responses to the survey by the ISSU, with one in three Leaving Cert students responding to the poll.

14.1k

Jan 17th 2022, 11:23 AM

# re-opening

INTO clarifies that teachers won't automatically be given medical-grade face masks for classrooms

Teachers will have to request the masks from their school’s board of management to obtain them.

25.3k

Jan 5th 2022, 2:55 PM

All time

# education report

Apprenticeships and post-grad studies are on the rise according to a new education report

The number of teachers at primary and post-primary level went up from 61,942 in 2016 to 69,343 in 2020.

12.8k

Dec 28th 2021, 1:49 PM

# schools closed

Storm Barra: All schools and colleges in counties under Red and Orange warnings to close tomorrow

Schools, colleges and universities across 12 counties are being told not to open tomorrow because of the approaching storm.

154k

Updated Dec 6th 2021, 8:15 PM

# substitute teachers

Emergency measures to tackle teacher shortages 'perpetuating unequal pay', say teaching unions

Emergency measures include an increased involvement of student teachers and retired teachers.

22.0k

Nov 29th 2021, 10:57 PM

# antigen tests

INTO calls for 'political leadership' on bringing in antigen tests to primary schools

“Time is of the essence and we simply can’t afford any additional delays,” said INTO General Secretary John Boyle

9.1k

Nov 10th 2021, 6:56 PM

# Music Generation

Public funding for U2-backed music programme to be reviewed

The Music Generation programme teaches children how to perform and play musical instruments.

35.1k

Nov 1st 2021, 7:30 AM

# Tough Start

Home by 10am: 'Misuse' of reduced school days leaving a generation of Traveller children 'lost'

Noteworthy and The Journal can reveal that many Traveller children are routinely put on ‘reduced hours’ at school – with at least one student on just 40 minutes a day.

Noteworthy and The Journal can reveal that many Traveller children are routinely put on 'reduced hours' at school - with at least one student on just 40 minutes a day

Reporters Maria Delaney and Michelle Hennessy work with Traveller focus groups to expose this issue

Over 60 children on one halting site in Munster received no digital supports during Covid lockdowns

54.0k

Updated Oct 17th 2021, 6:40 PM

# Pay and Conditions

School secretaries to strike outside Department of Public Expenditure over lack of better pay offers

Fórsa has said that civil servants have claimed the Tánaiste’s commitment to standard pay does not change WRC talks.

13.2k

Sep 1st 2021, 12:02 PM

# Rathmines

'The sooner it's boarded up the better': Official wanted door to be blocked to stop homeless person 'moving in'

The doorway was covered with wooden hoardings in late May, prompting an outcry on social media.

An official wrote the email before the doorway at the Rathmines college was covered with wooden hoardings in late May, Cónal Thomas reports.

The boarding up of the location prompted an outcry on social media because the location had been frequented by a man who slept rough.

Official statements at the time suggested that the doorway was boarded up to facilitate Leaving Certificate exams in June.

76.6k

Jul 7th 2021, 12:05 AM

# school dinners

School meals programme to be extended this summer due to impact of Covid-19 pandemic

The funding is normally not available during the summer.

11.9k

Jun 21st 2021, 2:24 PM

# Rathmines

Hoardings were put up where homeless man was known to sleep to 'prepare building for Leaving Cert'

The man has since been contacted by homeless services.

49.1k

May 28th 2021, 6:30 AM

# Courts

High Court challenge begins against direction to readmit expelled student with special needs

The pupil, who has special needs and cannot be identified by order of the court, was expelled in September from a Co Meath school.

22.6k

Feb 15th 2021, 9:15 PM

# State Exams

Leaving Cert 2021: Survey and emails from 'stressed' students presented to State exam Advisory Group

A survey found that most Leaving Cert students wanted a choice between Calculated Grades or in-person exams.

16.9k

Jan 22nd 2021, 3:42 PM

# Department of Education

Doubt over Thursday re-opening for special education classes amid 'make or break' talks

A webinar for teachers was held yesterday where “vitriolic” comments were left about public health experts’ assertion that schools are safe.

41.2k

147

Jan 19th 2021, 5:13 PM

# Special Education

At-risk SNAs and childcare among final obstacles in resuming special-education classes

Minister Norma Foley said classes for children with special needs would reopen next Thursday.

44.6k

Updated Jan 16th 2021, 3:50 PM

# Education

Number of sixth year students studying a foreign language falls as STEM gender gap persists

A report has found that “strong differences can be seen in the percentages of girls and boys when it comes to STEM, particularly when biology is excluded”.

19.5k

Dec 28th 2020, 9:44 AM

# Calculated Grades

Dept of Education officials say it was 'impossible' to get staff to check Leaving Cert algorithm

Dalton Tattan, assistant secretary at the Department of Education said the pressure they were under was ‘extreme’.

32.1k

Nov 10th 2020, 6:48 PM

# Sanitisers

Schools told to stop using more than 50 sanitising products following government review

The Department of Education has told schools that they will be provided with funding to obtain new supplies.

62.2k

Updated Oct 29th 2020, 7:47 PM

# hand sanitiser

Schools being asked to check hand sanitiser supplier following recall of brand due to possible 'health concerns'

A product recall was issued tonight by the Department of Agriculture on ViraPro hand sanitiser.

93.1k

Updated Oct 23rd 2020, 7:31 AM

# Schools

Parents sometimes feel 'coerced' into accepting reduced timetables for their children, committee hears

A Department of Education official said today the practice is to be “limited solely to those circumstances where it is absolutely necessary”.

31.9k

Oct 15th 2020, 3:18 PM

# mid-term break

'No decision made' on extension to school mid-term break to curb virus

Government sources say the move is being considered as an option but no decision has been made.

44.9k

Oct 9th 2020, 12:24 PM

# black lives matter

Government urged to drop novels with 'racial slurs' from Junior Cert syllabus in response to Black Lives Matter protests

Parents, pupils and teachers have called for an update the school curriculum.

51.0k

168

Sep 14th 2020, 12:05 AM

# 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.

23.0k

Sep 10th 2020, 7:45 AM

# Results Day

The Leaving Cert: When are the results due, and what can we expect?

Leaving Cert calculated grade results are due to be released tomorrow morning at 9am.

44.1k

Sep 6th 2020, 12:05 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

# Schools

No clear start date for new guidance counsellors a 'travesty' for students

The government announced new 120 guidance counsellor posts last month to support students returning to school.

22.0k

Aug 29th 2020, 6:15 AM

# schools reopening

Overcrowded classes and an empty classroom: Serious 'frustration' at teaching job cuts during a health crisis

A mixture of excitement and frustration prevailed at one Louth school with classes of 33 pupils as available classrooms lie empty.

26.2k

Aug 28th 2020, 12:10 AM

# Schools

School closures prompt changes to 2021 Leaving Cert and Junior Cert exams

The changes were announced this evening by the Department of Education.

50.7k

Aug 21st 2020, 9:58 PM

# Covid-19

Secondary school buses to run at 50% capacity only, government confirms

The Department of Education said it had taken the decision following advice from NPHET.

24.2k

Aug 20th 2020, 7:13 PM

# Back To School

The mental health system is preparing for a 'tsunami' of cases from young people - staff are worried it can't cope

Long waiting lists and a disjointed system have already caused major issues.

26.0k

Aug 16th 2020, 7:15 AM