Category: Education

Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Senator Annie Hoey has today (Monday 5th September) said that the escalating student accommodation crisis and the soaring cost-of-living for students must be addressed in Budget 2023. Speaking following the publication of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) pre-budget submission, Senator Hoey said: “The student accommodation crisis…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has today (Wednesday, 1st September) written to the Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Deputy Josepha Madigan seeking an emergency meeting with education spokespeople of all opposition parties to discuss the situation of school places for children with special educational needs. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “The Milne…

Labour Education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has sharply criticised the Minister for Education, Norma Foley, for the unnecessary delay in publishing the results of Leaving Cert 2022. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “Providing Leaving Cert results on Friday, 2nd September is an unnecessary delay at the start of the academic year and will only serve to…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has today (Tuesday, 21st June) called on Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Deputy Josepha Madigan, to clarify her position on basic qualifications and accreditation for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) as a matter of urgency. Deputy Ó Ríordáin was speaking at a meeting of the Joint Committee…

Labour Higher Education spokesperson, Annie Hoey, has today (Friday, 22nd April) demanded that the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris steps up and guarantees that remote learning options become a permanent feature of our education system. The call comes following news that colleges are actively emailing students to confirm that for the next…

With constant delays and indecision in the Department of Education, Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has demanded a debate with the Minister of Education once the Oireachtas returns from the Easter break. Pointing to a range of issues relating to staffing scheduling, Deputy Ó Ríordáin said schools must be provided with information from the…

Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Senator Annie Hoey has demanded that the Minister engage with Bank of Ireland following the revelation of the winding up of the Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) loan. Senator Hoey said: “The winding up of the GEM loan by Bank of Ireland is deeply concerning. As the last bank…

Following the Minister for Children’s announcement of the First 5 My Little Library Initiative, Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Department of Education to extend free school books to all children in this state. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “Year on year the cost of sending children back to school is rising,…

Equality audit of all secondary schools must be undertaken Responding to the Leaving Cert reform announced by government today, Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the proposals must be examined more thoroughly, calling for an audit of the capacity of secondary schools to deliver the proposed changes. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “The experience of…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Minister to outline the specific rationale used for the DEIS school funding announced by the Department yesterday. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “At a briefing for Education spokespeople yesterday, a considerable amount of time was spent on explaining the DEIS identification model which has been used…

Labour Senator, and Further and Higher Education spokesperson, Annie Hoey, has today (Friday, 18th February) said Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris must ensure that the successes and gains of remote learning are bedded down post pandemic. Speaking in the Seanad this week, Senator Hoey said the benefits experienced by disabled students, parents…

Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has today published a bill to end single-gender school admission policies. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said the time has come to bring Ireland’s education system more in line with international norms. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “The fact that so many of our schools are still separated by gender sends the…

Labour spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Annie Hoey has called on the Minister to provide assurance to all students that in-person exams are being held in line with public health guidance. Senator Hoey said: “Young people have been an afterthought throughout the pandemic. Last month I wrote to Minister Harris asking him to detail…

Raising the manner in which the guidance on mask wearing in schools was communicated to schools, Labour education spokesperson Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the lack of proactive communication from the Minister to school communities and children is simply unacceptable. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said: “Schools have been taken aback by the manner in which the mask…

Substitution crisis continues to impact secondary schools Labour education spokesperson has reiterated his call for the Minister for Education to meet with Opposition to discuss the current situation of Covid-19 in schools. Highlighting concerns raised by school communities and unions, Deputy Ó Ríordáin said it is only by working openly and collaboratively that long-term solutions…

Labour Party Education Spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, has demanded that the Minister for Education immediately intervene to save the school system from complete collapse over the rapidly rising numbers of Covid outbreaks in schools and early years settings. Deputy Ó Ríordáin said the Minister must do all in her power to convince Cabinet colleagues that…