Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to meet the Minister, and discuss school safety with teachers unions

Norma Foley, Minister for Education and Skills, and Josepha Madigan, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills will appear in Committee Room 3 from 1.30pm.

On Thursday, four Teachers Unions will appear before the committee at 11.30am in Committee Room 2 for a round table discussion on the issue of ensuring that schools are open in a manner which is both safe and sustainable. The witnesses are:

• Kieran Christie, Association of Secondary School Teachers
• Andy Pike, National Secretary, FORSA
• John Boyle, General Secretary, Irish National Teachers Organisation
• Michael Gillespie, General Secretary, Teachers Union of Ireland

Speaking in advance of the meetings, Committee Chairperson, Paul Kehoe TD, said: “We have two meetings planned for the week and the impact of Covid 19 on the Education system will be a key theme at both. It is now two weeks since the schools returned from mid-term break and the best part of three months since schools resumed nationwide, so the views of the Minister, the Minister of State and then the Unions,  who represent teachers across the country, will be timely.

“Our schools, staff, students and parents alike deserve huge credit, but we as a committee are aware of the concerns expressed by representatives of School Communities and are determined to listen to their views. I hope these meetings raise issues that contribute to assisting schools to overcome any challenges which they may face in the coming weeks and months, from day-to-day activities, to special educational supports and ,of course, issues surrounding the Leaving Certificate examination..”

The meetings can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

For more information about the work of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science seethe Committee webpage

, said: “We have two meetings planned for the week and the impact of Covid 19 on the Education system will be a key theme at both. It is now two weeks since the schools returned from mid-term break and the best part of three months since schools resumed nationwide, so the views of the Minister, the Minister of State and then the Unions,  who represent teachers across the country, will be timely.

“Our schools, staff, students and parents alike deserve huge credit, but we as a committee are aware of the concerns expressed by representatives of school communities and are determined to listen to their views. I hope these meetings raise issues that contribute to assisting schools to overcome any challenges which they may face in the coming weeks and months, from day-to-day activities, to special educational supports and ,of course, issues surrounding the Leaving Certificate examination.”

The meetings can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

For more information about the work of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science seethe Committee webpage