Letters to the Editor: Leaving cert redevelopment and old vans transporting patients
Dear Editor,
As a post primary teacher, I am writing to express my concern regarding the accelerated timeline of the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme.
I strongly urge Minister McEntee to pause this acceleration and not to penalise ASTI members who have voted overwhelmingly (68% to 32%, 73% turnout) to reject the Senior Cycle Redevelopment implementation support measures.
In a separate ballot, ASTI members also voted 67% to 33% in favour of industrial action if necessary. This is a powerful signal of the profession’s genuine and widespread concern.
ASTI’s position is based on well-researched and well-documented realities. Many schools, especially DEIS and smaller rural schools, currently lack the capacity and resourcing to deliver such wide-ranging changes effectively.
Teachers are being asked to take on significantly increased workload without adequate training, time, or infrastructure.
The risks of insufficient authentication of Additional Assessment Components (AACs), challenges around AI, and inequality of provision are very real and have not been sufficiently addressed. The Department of Education’s press release outlines several measures but these do not address the core issues raised by teachers.
Moreover, the decision to accelerate this reform by a full year under Minister McEntee’s predecessor has created deep mistrust.
Teachers were not consulted on this change of pace, which is being imposed on a system already under strain.
The current approach risks harming the very students it is meant to serve. Science, in particular, is already under-resourced in many schools and introducing new specifications under these conditions will result in a postcode lottery of educational quality.
The Minister needs to: respect the clear democratic decision of ASTI members; refrain from using the Public Service Agreement to force through measures without consensus; and restore the original timeline to allow genuine consultation and proper preparation across all schools.
The minister stated a commitment to supporting students, but sustainable reform cannot be achieved without bringing teachers along.
Rushing ahead risks creating deeper divisions, damaging morale, and ultimately harming educational outcomes.
I appeal to Minister McEntee to act with leadership and wisdom and pause the timeline, re-engage with teachers, and deliver a reform process that will truly serve students, teachers, and the wider system.
Is mise le meas,
Michael McGrath,
St Augustine’s College,
Abbeyside,
Dungarvan,
Co. Waterford.
Dear Editor,
I am calling on the HSE to provide three new mini-buses to St Otteran's Hospital. At the moment they have '99 and '00 reg vans to transport patients.
Yours,
Seamus Dunphy,
30 Tramore Heights,
Tramore,
Co. Waterford.
