Education & Training Policy

THE PROPOSAL

1. Education and workforce planning

A) Prioritise Irish and EEA students for publicly funded education and training places in high-demand professions.

B) Restrict non-EEA student recruitment into courses linked to occupations experiencing critical domestic shortages, including nursing, medicine and other essential healthcare roles.

C) Align college places with Ireland's long-term workforce requirements.

D) Expand domestic training capacity to reduce reliance on overseas recruitment.
E) Ensure international recruitment does not displace opportunities for domestic students.

2. Parental rights and school ethos

A) Strengthen parental authority and involvement in children's education.
B) Protect the religious ethos and constitutional rights of denominational schools.
C) Respect parents' rights to choose education consistent with their religious and philosophical convictions.
D) Ensure schools communicate clearly with parents about curriculum content.
E) Strengthen parental representation in school governance.

3. Curriculum reform and parental consent

A) Refocus the curriculum on core educational subjects:
English and Irish.
Mathematics.
Science.
History and geography.
Civics and practical life skills.
B) Allow limited discretionary subjects appropriate to individual schools.
C) Require explicit parental opt-in consent for non-core or sensitive additional curriculum subjects.
D) Where parental consent has not been provided, the child is presumed opted out.
E) Provide transparent curriculum materials and advance notification to parents.

4. Apprenticeships and vocational training
A) Increase financial supports for apprentices from low-income households.
B) Provide additional assistance with travel, accommodation, tools and equipment.
C) Expand apprenticeships across construction, engineering, manufacturing, technology and essential trades.
D) Increase employer incentives to take on apprentices.
E) Remove unnecessary barriers to entering vocational careers.
F) Promote apprenticeships as an equal alternative to university education.

5. Teacher recruitment and standards

A) Improve teacher retention and reduce reliance on temporary and substitute teachers.
B) Expand teacher training places in shortage subjects.
C) Reward experience, qualifications and classroom performance.
D) Strengthen classroom discipline and teacher authority.
E) Reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on teachers.
F) Ensure consistent national standards of educational achievement.

6. Special educational needs

A) Guarantee timely assessment and access to appropriate supports.

B) Expand special classes and special-school capacity where required.
Increase availability of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and educational psychologists.

C) Give parents a stronger voice in decisions about their children's education.

D) Ensure children with additional needs are not left without suitable school placements or support.

7. School standards and accountability

A) Introduce stronger accountability for educational outcomes.
B) Publish understandable annual school performance reports.
C) Prioritise literacy, numeracy and attendance.
D) Address persistent absenteeism and classroom disruption.
E) Review school management and administrative costs.
F) Ensure public funding delivers measurable improvements.

8. Practical education and employment

A) Expand financial literacy, household budgeting and basic economics.

B) Introduce practical instruction in cooking, nutrition, home maintenance and personal finance.

C) Strengthen career guidance from an earlier age.
D) Develop stronger partnerships between schools, employers and local industries. 

E) Expand work placements and work-based learning.

F) Teach responsible use of technology and artificial intelligence.

9. Education costs and access

A) Maintain free schoolbooks.
B) Reduce uniform and compulsory school-related expenses. Eg non standard colours, patterns, emblems etc

C) Expand affordable school transport, particularly in rural communities.

D) Provide targeted assistance for low-income families.

E) Ensure children are not disadvantaged because of their family's financial 

10. Technology and online safety

A) Introduce stronger protections against online exploitation and cyberbullying.

B) Improve digital literacy and responsible technology use.

C) Establish clear rules for mobile phone use during school hours.

D) Ensure AI supports teachers rather than replacing them.

E) Protect children's personal information and educational records.

13. Further and higher education reform
Review university funding and administration to reduce unnecessary expenditure.

A) Improve transparency around student fees and institutional spending.
B) Strengthen links between publicly funded courses and actual employment opportunities.
C) Expand regional technological universities and further education colleges.
D) Reduce graduate unemployment and skills mismatches.
E) Encourage graduates to remain and work in Ireland through improved domestic employment opportunities.