Equality must be priority in new system [Independent.ie]
- Published: 19 October 2009
TWENTY years ago it would have been unthinkable -- the Department of Education asking the Bishops to name the schools they are willing to hand over to the State.
The response then would have been a very painful belt of the crozier.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Bishops to hand over schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 19 October 2009
THE biggest shake-up in Irish education for decades is set to begin with historic talks on the transfer of some of the country's 3,000 Catholic primary schools to the State.
The talks will commence next month between the Department of Education and Science and the Catholic bishops, who are Patrons of 92pc of the country's primary schools.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
The value of education to Irish society [tribune.ie]
- Published: 18 October 2009
The debate over the reintroduction of third-level fees once again highlights the fundamental dishonesty of our political masters.
Batt O'Keeffe beating a retreat and then restating his original objective for third-level fees is a distraction from the wider issue.
The real question for ourselves is the value we place as a society on education.
Full Story: www.tribune.ie
State spent €10m on private psychologist services for schools [thepost.ie]
- Published: 18 October 2009
The state has spent almost €10 million on private psychologist services in schools over the past eight years. A total of 30,000 private assessments were carried out over the period at a cost of more than €300 each. This is in addition to the services provided under the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
Schools who do not have NEPS psychologists assigned to them can avail of the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA),which was established in the 2001/02 academic year.
Full Story: www.thepost.ie
Ministers' areas get more investment [Irish Times]
- Published: 18 October 2009
CAPITAL SPENDING: CONSTITUENCIES WHERE the sitting TDs include Government Ministers receive higher infrastructure spending per head of population than those without, according to research findings presented to the conference.
A study of the allocation of the government's capital spending budget between 2001 and 2007 by former Irish Times economics editor Jane Suiter found that constituencies represented by the minister for finance over the period were more likely to receive higher allocations for the building of sports clubs.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com