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Dr Niall Mulldoon told the Committee that excluding a child's access to education is as an extremely 'serious sanction'

Reduced school timetables 'impacting children's rights'

The Ombudsman for Children Niall Mulldoon has said the use of reduced timetables in schools is a" serious" concern that is impacting on the rights of children.

Politics • 13 Jun 19

Some schools are facing premiums of up to €60,000

Soaring insurance costs could lead to school closures

Fifteen special schools have contacted the Department of Education in recent weeks to say they are facing soaring insurance costs that would threaten them with closure.

Education • 10 Jun 19

Ardgillan Community College has remained closed due to defects identified there

Schools briefed on structural defects remediation works

Schools where serious structural problems were discovered late last year are being briefed by the Department of Education as to the kind of remediation works that will take place over the summer holidays to bring the schools up to standard.

Education • 06 Jun 19

School leavers applying to the Student Support Scheme must now have spent three years in the Irish education system, as opposed to five years as was previously required

Criteria eased for asylum seekers to attend third level

The Department of Education has lowered the eligibility criteria for a scheme which enables asylum seeker students to go on to third level education here.

Education • 04 Jun 19

Louise O'Keeffe won a ruling five years ago that the State was vicariously liable for the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her former national school principal

Abuse compensation scheme 'not working', says Taoiseach

The Taoiseach has acknowledged that the compensation scheme established by the State four years ago for people abused as children in day schools is "not working".

Politics • 14 May 19

Reading on tablets may compromise ability to critically analyse texts

Concern over reliance on technology in schools

The use of some technologies in the classroom could be hurting rather than helping learning, according to a growing body of research.

Education • 17 Apr 19

Department inspectors and psychologists visited three centres in counties Kildare, Waterford, and Roscommon

Ombudsman expresses concern over refugee education

The Ombudsman for Children has expressed concern about the quality of educational provision for children who have arrived here as refugees from Syria under a state supported resettlement programme.

Education • 20 Feb 19

Report states that 1999 curriculum on sex-education is out of date

Sex education in Irish schools outdated - report

A report published this evening by the Oireachtas Education Committee says the Relationships and Sexuality Education taught in our schools is outdated, needs an overhaul, and that schools' ethos should not influence what is taught.

Education • 29 Jan 19

C&AG report had been highly critical of University of Limerick

Dept of Education examining recoupment of money

Secretary General of the Department of Education has told the Public Accounts Committee that it is examining ways to recoup money from higher education institutions where breaches of governance have been identified.

Education • 24 Jan 19

This second phase of examinations will determine what works may need to be carried out

Structural investigations of schools to get under way

The Department of Education has appointed contractors to begin detailed structural investigations into 22 school buildings, all constructed by Northern Irish company Western Building Systems in recent years.

Education • 18 Jan 19

Fórsa's campaign is being backed by Ireland's three teacher unions

Union in call for fair pay for school secretaries

A trade union representing school secretaries has begun a campaign calling for fair pay and working conditions

Education • 17 Jan 19

More than 2,100 responses were submitted by the week before Christmas, with further responses received since

Consultation on exemptions from learning Irish extended

The consultation period for a survey on exemptions from studying Irish in schools has been extended due to the amount of responses received.

Education • 04 Jan 19

Almost 10,000 additional school enrolments in 2018

School enrolment continues to grow, with an additional almost 10,000 pupils accommodated within the primary and post-primary school systems over the past year, according to the latest Department of Education data.

Education • 27 Dec 18

Minister Joe McHugh said further works will be carried out during school holidays

Children return to school buildings after safety works

Two west Dublin primary schools are making plans for the return of children to their original classrooms after confirmation today that precautionary works to address structural safety concerns at the schools have been completed.

News • 12 Dec 18

Status of History in Junior Cycle curriculum to be reviewed

Review of History for Junior Cycle due by March

A review of the place of History in the curriculum offered to Junior Cycle students in secondary schools is expected to be completed by the end of next March.

Education • 28 Nov 18

The C&AG report centres on remuneration for certain senior staff at UL and IT Sligo

UL subsidiary employees got benefits valued at €1.2m

Two employees of a subsidiary of University of Limerick received additional pension benefits valued at €1.2m, after being admitted to a university pension scheme that was about to close to new entrants, according to a C&AG report.

Ireland • 27 Nov 18

Tyrrelstown Educate Together school has yet to reach a decision on when it will fully reopen

Minister says Dept will pursue costs against WBS

The Minister for Education has told an Oireachtas committee that his Department will pursue every legal channel against Western Building Systems - the company that built 23 schools where structural weaknesses have been discovered.

Education • 07 Nov 18

The work is aimed at enabling the buildings to reopen after the mid-term break for some pupils

Work begins on structural problems at Dublin schools

The Department of Education has confirmed that work has begun to try and resolve structural problems at three primary schools in Dublin.

Education • 30 Oct 18

Ardgillan Community College is one of 31 schools where fire safety audits were being carried out

Department to examine 30 schools over structural issues

The Department of Education has said that it will carry out "urgent structural assessments" of 30 schools built in the past ten years.

Education • 22 Oct 18

Inclusion Ireland says unregulated seclusion and restraint practices endanger both children with disabilities and teachers

Regulation urged for seclusion and restraint practices

An association for people with intellectual disabilities has called for regulations to govern the use of restraint and seclusion practices on children in schools across the country.

News • 26 Sep 18

Planned investment comes under the latest national development plan known as Project Ireland 2040

€12bn plan will see 70% rise in spending on schools

The Government has announced a 70% increase in capital spending on schools over the next decade as part of a €12bn investment in education.

Education • 14 Sep 18

The figures include school buses and private coaches

Call for safety audit of country's school buses

Fianna Fáil has written to the Transport Minister seeking a safety audit of the country's school buses after more than half of all buses inspected by the Road Safety Authority in the past year failed roadside safety tests.

Ireland • 09 Sep 18

The Department waited until the end of Freshers Week to announce the third level access scheme for student asylum seekers.

Third level access scheme for asylum seekers extended

The Department of Education has said that it will continue to offer a scheme to provide third level financial supports to eligible asylum seekers, with applications being accepted from today.

Education • 07 Sep 18

Surprise resignation leaves HEA back at square one

The sudden resignation of HEA head Graham Love, just a year-and-a-half after he took up the position, has come as a surprise to people working in the higher education sector. Even for people working within the HEA itself it has come as a shock. No one expected this.

Analysis and Comment • 21 Aug 18

The collapse of Carillion lead to the liquidation of the Sammon construction firm

Sub-contractors call for intervention in payments row

Sub-contractors who have been left out of pocket the liquidation of the Sammon construction firm have again called for the State to intervene to ensure they receive some payment.

Education • 24 Jul 18