News

The Social Democrats have urged the Taoiseach to personally intervene to end the ongoing hunger strike by survivors of institutional abuse, which has now entered its 45th day. Deputy Jen Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “I have written to the Taoiseach on behalf of the parliamentary party to express our deep alarm and […]

Children in our most vulnerable educational settings cannot be left to pay the price for systemic teacher shortages, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The recent survey published by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) reporting that over half of special schools, 43% of Irish-medium schools and 35% of DEIS […]

Serious questions need to be asked about the structure and resourcing of single sex schools by the department, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The findings published today should make everyone in education policy stop and think – we’ve known for some time that same-sex schooling can limit subject choice, especially […]

There must be urgent reform of the State examinations system to ensure that students with dyslexia are granted additional time and appropriate supports during their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Earlier this month at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth, I highlighted […]

Third level students are set to be betrayed by the government in tomorrow’s Budget, with a cut of just €500 in college fees expected to be announced, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “Students and their families had become accustomed to […]

Newly published guidelines for special needs assistants will harm some of the most vulnerable children in our schools, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “These guidelines do not represent progress – they are designed to ration resources, not to support children. “At a time when schools are already under huge […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has slammed reports of third level students having to endure shocking living conditions in seriously overcrowded accommodation. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on further and higher education, said: “I am appalled at revelations that postgraduate students attending Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Limerick have been crammed […]

Figures released by the Department of Education showing a small reduction in class sizes do not reflect the reality faced by many schools and should be taken with a pinch of salt, according to the Social Democrats. Deputy Jen Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “The headline figure published by the department suggests […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called on the Minister for Education to make immediate contact with Fórsa and confirm that the government is now willing to put the issue of pensions on the table as part of any negotiations to end the week-long strike by school secretaries and caretakers. Deputy Cummins, who is the […]

Inter-party squabbling between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will do nothing to resolve the ongoing strike by school secretaries and caretakers, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “We are now one week into this strike, which is severely disrupting the day-to-day running of schools around the country and has the […]