News
Have your say: What role does an SNA play in your life?
3+ hour, 3+ min ago (125+ words) A controversial review of special needs assistant (SNA) allocations is being paused after criticism from teachers, parents and unions. The U-turn came after the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) contacted almost 200 schools indicating their allocations were being reduced. Minister…...
Review finds 209 children treated by north Kerry Camhs were at risk of potential harm
8+ hour, 29+ min ago (628+ words) More than 200 children being treated by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs) in north Kerry were at risk of potential harm, an independent review has found. On Wednesday, the Health Service Executive (HSE) published a look-back review into…...
No legislation being prepared to ban social media access for under-16s, says Government
17+ hour, 22+ min ago (613+ words) Legislation to ban social media access for under-16s is not being prepared by Government, which will instead consult the EU and "like-minded countries" to promote measures that may keep children off the online platforms. Government spokespeople were unable to say…...
In North Kerry Camhs, children were far more likely to be medicated than receive talk therapy
1+ day, 4+ hour ago (677+ words) In the north Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (Camhs), children were twice as likely to be prescribed medication than they were to receive talking therapies. Concerns around overreliance on pharmacological intervention have long been flagged both in Ireland…...
Pausing SNA review buys Government time
1+ day, 7+ hour ago (111+ words) Our politics team's behind-the-scenes take on events of the day. Sent Monday to Friday when the D'il is in session The pausing of a controversial review of special needs assistant (SNA) allocations after criticism from teachers, parents and unions has…...
GAA Congress to hear motion tying intercounty eligibility to minimum club appearance requirement
1+ day, 19+ hour ago (476+ words) A motion will go before GAA Congress next week requiring players to make a minimum of eight club appearances a season to be eligible for their county team the following year. The Clontarf proposal is an amended version of a…...
Opinion: We need to stop treating mental health and wellbeing as opposite ends of a spectrum
3+ day, 9+ hour ago (344+ words) Schools are coming under more and more pressure to address student mental health and wellbeing difficulties. There is widespread and growing concern over the poor mental health and wellbeing reported by young people in Ireland. This has led to a…...
Breda O’Brien: We profess horror at past wrongs done to children. What about the wrongs happening right now?
4+ day, 8+ hour ago (547+ words) Navigating the transition from post-primary school is daunting enough for students who come from well-resourced, stable homes. For a young person who has experienced foster or residential care, the challenge is far greater. At 18 they move into aftercare, only receiving…...
Bullying intensity in Irish schools increased over eight years, study shows
5+ day, 4+ hour ago (507+ words) Bullying intensity among students in Ireland increased by 10 per cent over an eight-year period, according to a new paper released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), tracking recent changes in such behaviour across 40 countries. In most, the…...
Stay-at-home parent role now valued at more than €60,000 a year
6+ day, 4+ hour ago (615+ words) It would cost about "60,112 per year to "employ" someone to do the myriad of jobs carried out by a stay-at-home parent, according to new research. The report from Royal London Ireland, a provider of life insurance and pensions here, showed…...