Time is still crucial for energy – but the issue has moved from daylight savings to smart grids
Dr David Laverty from Queen’s is working to make smart grids make use of renewables and to allow users to use electricity smartly The clocks changing to summer time is unlikely to herald cheaper energy bills for consumers – but it does raise pressing questions about the relationship between time, energy and sustainability, according to…
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Banning social media for under‑16s won’t fix the real problem
The business model of these platforms is dangerous for all of us By Tony D Sampson Reader in Digital Communication, University of EssexFrom The Conversation Against rising adult concern about child sexual abuse content and children’s mental health, recent calls to follow Australia and ban under-16s from accessing social media in the UK are understandable….
Primary School Survey shows limited appetite for change
By Niall Gormley Around 40 per cent of parents who send their children to religious ethos schools would like the schools to become multi-denominational according to the Primary School Survey. More conservative and religious interpretations put this as 60 per cent wanting to maintain the present religious status. However, the overall response national rate to…
Apprenticeship review to set the scene for the next five years
Pre-covid training capacity of 10,000 has now expanded to 18,000 The Government’s target is 12,500 new apprentice registrations annually Craft apprentices earn an average €49,000 two years after qualifying By Niall Gormley Ireland’s on-off relationship with apprenticeships has just passed an important milepost. After many years of neglect when the focus of the education system…
Ten youth climate projects funded with €500k investment
The Dept of Education has announced €500,000 in funding for ten youth-led climate justice projects taking place across Ireland in 2026. Projects include a mix of national and regional initiatives, including a programme of social innovation in the west of Ireland and a scouting programme centred on Lough Dan Scout and Eco Centre. The Youth…
SEAI announces €20.5 million in government funding for 34 national energy research awards
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has announced that it awarded more than €20 million in Government funding to 34 new national energy research awards under the SEAI National Energy Funding Programme in 2025. This comprises of 25 Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) projects and nine Energise Fellowships. The RD&D projects funded by SEAI…
The AI Revolution – What’s Changing in Irish Schools?
As we move through the 2025/26 school year, the conversation around Artificial Intelligence has become a nationwide educational reality. From the smallest rural national schools in Kerry to large community colleges in Dublin, AI is no longer a sci-fi concept – it’s an active participant in the learning journey of Irish students. Here’s how the…
Can Dublin’s Teachers Afford Dublin?
If you’ve walked through a school staffroom in Dublin lately, you’ve likely heard a conversation that has nothing to do with the curriculum. It’s about rent increases and tiring commutes from Meath or Kildare. We are currently facing a Dublin Teacher Crisis, and at its heart isn’t a lack of passion for teaching – it’s the…
Beyond The Final Exam – Navigating Ireland’s New 40% Continuous Assessment
For decades, the Irish Leaving Cert was defined by a single, high-stakes fortnight of back to back exams in June. It was a marathon where two years of work boiled down to a few frantic hours of essay writing and problem solving. But for the Class of 2026, the landscape has changed. With the new Senior…
Every School Day Counts: Addressing the Rise in School Absenteeism in Ireland
The landscape of Irish education is facing a significant challenge as school absenteeism remains at concerning levels following the pandemic. While recent data shows modest improvements in some areas, the proportion of students missing substantial portions of the school year is still higher than pre-pandemic figures. For educators and parents, understanding these trends is the…
Is it time up for education technology?
Have we gone too far in expecting technology to educate our students and is the answer a back-to-basics regime in the classroom? Niall Gormley looks at the evidence. In December 2024 the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle aired a news report from a classroom in Sweden. The children were 9-10 years old and the first class of the…
Will Scotland’s planned four-day week for teachers work?
Beng Huat SeeProfessor of Education Research, School of Education, University of Birmingham Daniel WheatleyReader in Business and Labour Economics, University of Birmingham The Scottish government recently announced plans to pilot a four-day school week. The proposal comes amid growing concerns about teacher supply and wellbeing. Teaching remains one of the most stressful occupations with stress,…
What is the Circular Economy and why should we care?
By Jack McCarthy Head of Research & Adam BolandResearch Officer The Rediscovery Centre The term “Circular Economy” has become increasingly prominent in public and political discourse in recent years. In this short piece we want to provide an overview of how circularity is currently measured in the EU and why we should care. What is…
New book on Data Protection a useful guide for education managers and leaders
Clarus Press has announced the upcoming publication of Data Protection for Business: Compliance, Governance, Reputation and Trust, the latest book from marketer and data protection expert Steven Roberts. Public expectations around privacy and the use of personal information have grown significantly since the introduction of the GDPR. In this practical guide, Steven Roberts, Group Head…
Minister Naughton makes final call to parents ‘Don’t miss your chance to have your say’
Over 34% of eligible households have their say to date on primary school survey, with 168,000 responses so far Minister for Education and Youth is urging all parents of primary school and pre-school children and school communities to have their say on the future of their primary school before the survey closes on 16 December…
What past education technology failures can teach us about the future of AI in schools
By Justin Reich Professor of Digital Media, Massachusetts Institute of Technology This article was originally published on The Conversation: https://tinyurl.com/2v9zyp9u American technologists have been telling educators to rapidly adopt their new inventions for over a century. In 1922, Thomas Edison declared that in the near future, all school textbooks would be replaced by film strips,…
Interview – planting the seed of biodiversity inside and outside of schools
Biodiversity in Schools runs a number of programmes aiming to increase awareness of nature and bringing nature to schools. Founder and CEO Mark Nolan talked to Niall Gormley. Ireland declared a National Emergency in Biodiversity in 2019, only the second country, after the UK, to do so. The declaration came as mounting evidence showed a serious decline…
Griffith College Honours Joe Duffy
Pictured at Griffith College’s South Circular Road Campus in Dublin are Professor Diarmuid Hegarty, President of Griffith College, and Mr. Joe Duffy. Mr Duffy, one of the country’s leading broadcasters, received a Distinguished Fellowship Award at the College’s graduation ceremony in recognition of his public service contribution in Ireland. Griffith College, Ireland’s largest private higher…
“We are witnessing the death of small talk among our young people”
“If I had one message for education policy makers and the upcoming national convention on the future of education in Ireland, it would be a blanket ban of smart phones across our schools.” That’s according to family psychotherapist, Dr Richard Hogan, the keynote speaker at the annual congress of Education and Training Boards Ireland which…