The three Co. Louth principals, from rural schools within a 10 kilometre radius of one another, said the cost of school insurance alone takes up almost a third of funding provided by the government to cover running costs.

The hiring process for occupational therapists and speech and language therapists will start in the next week.

Minister for Education Helen McEntee said she will provide updated figures to the cabinet in July, which will then be publicly shared.

Just 4 per cent of teachers think preparing students for sacraments should be the responsibility of primary schools.

Micheál Martin said that every child in Ireland has a constitutional right to a school place.

Several of the schools across the counties of Fermanagh, Tyrone and Antrim closed as a precaution on Monday morning.

Some schools posted messages on social media advising parents that they had closed.

Kate Raftery, from Dublin, addressed parents camping outside the Department of Education to protest over a lack of special education school places

Anthony Quigley from Roches Heights, Mitchelstown, Co Cork appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court having previously pleaded guilty to engaging in offensive conduct of a sexual nature following an incident in his hometown last year.

A number of schools across Co Clare remain closed until they receive further instructions.

It comes as questions are asked over funding from the Education Authority for sports facilities at one school.

The Children’s Ombudsman said the complaints process was ‘not sufficiently robust’ to deal with complaints about restraint.

The figure is based on an estimated 20 per cent replacement rate for the pouches every year.

The Government allocated €9 million in the budget for schools to purchase pouches for pupils’ phones aimed at minimising disruption

Simon Harris was speaking as he was urged to include corporal punishment in schools in the investigation.

A recent survey has shown there is a current staffing shortage of 951 teachers.

Mairead Farrell said the Government finds it ‘incredibly easy to squander taxpayers’ hard-earned money’.

Scoil Áine Naofa and St Thomas' were safely evacuated on Monday morning.

Simon Harris said the same scheme is in place in Northern Ireland where Sinn Fein is in the Stormont administration.

The Keeping Childhood Smartphone Free initiative was announced in this week’s budget

The report reviewed allegations of historical child sexual abuse, made against religious, lay staff, and clergy.

Education Minister Norma Foley made her comments as she liaised with school management about how to implement a ban on mobile phones.

NI Education Minister Paul Givan has written to a group of 400 Muslim women after they raised concerns about the safety of their children.

Mr Crone was responding to reports that Minister for Education Norma Foley plans to ask second-level schools to ban the use of mobile phones by students during the school day

Newly qualified teachers who take up a full-time role for the coming school year will receive the payment next summer

Social Demcorats leader Holly Cairns told the Oireachtas that costs of running primary schools have soared.

Norma Foley said the department and schools needed to ‘work harder’ when a child was unhappy and not included.

Junior Bard of Connacht Congratulations to Grace Campbell in Transition Year, whose poem ‘Emotions’ received third prize at the ‘Junior Bard of Connacht’ competition held as part of the recent Creggs Harvest Festival.

Panto TimeIt was that time of the year when the Transition Year class of 2023 at Coláiste Chiaráin prepared for their annual musical performance.

Panto TimeIt was that time of the year when the Transition Year class of 2023 at Coláiste Chiaráin prepared for their annual musical performance.

CAO The CAO is now open for applications for Sixth Year students who are thinking of progressing to third level in September 2024. The cost of an application is €30 and applications can be made on the CAO website at www. cao. ie.

Social Inclusion WorkshopFirst Year students participated in a Social Inclusion workshop last Thursday which was organised by Ms O’ Connor.

Junior Girls’ Rugby There was an excellent display of rugby once again from the junior girls vs Carrick CS in a great win 29-5.

Enrolment at Elphin Community College For the attention of all prospective First Year students and parents/guardians, enrolment for the school year 2024/ 2025 has officially launched since November 6th, 2023.

Sixth Years Enjoy a Performance of ‘Hamlet’  On Tuesday, November 6th, Sixth Year higher level students of English got to enjoy a wonderful performance of Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ in the Dean Crowe Theatre, Athlone.

Marist College NewsSixth Year LCVP The Sixth Year LCVP students travelled to the Chocolate Garden of Ireland, in Carlow last week. They learned all about the process of chocolate making during their visit.

Gael Linn Debating Competition On November 8th, six students represented Roscommon Community College in the Gael Linn Irish debating competition, which took place in Roscommon Community College.

Senior Football Scoil Mhuire Strokestown vs RCC: The Scoil Mhuire senior lads took on Roscommon Community College in an entertaining challenge game on Friday, November 10th.

Minister for Education Norma Foley is getting sign-off from cabinet this morning for moves to help limit the devices for young children.

A ban would be difficult to introduce as there, were lots of schools that do not have digital devices, which could lead to students missing educational opportunities.