Second-level teachers represented by the ASTI have voted decisively in favour of industrial action amid ongoing delays in securing a new public sector pay agreement.
In the ballot, 95% of participating ASTI members supported industrial action, including the possibility of strike action, while 5% voted against. Turnout was 56%.
Up to 20,000 ASTI teachers are expected to begin initial industrial action from Monday, 5 October. This will include withdrawing from selected duties, such as the Croke Park Hours.
The dispute is set to escalate further on 14 October, when ASTI members are due to take strike action alongside other public sector unions.
ASTI General Secretary Linda Kelly said the result reflected strong frustration among teachers over pay and the rising cost of living. She said teachers’ earnings had fallen behind inflation and argued that the Government had failed to adequately recognise the financial pressures facing teachers and other public service workers.
Public sector unions have criticised the Government for what they say is a failure to make a meaningful pay offer. The previous public sector pay agreement expired on June 30th, with formal negotiations on a replacement deal yet to begin.
The Department of Public Expenditure, however, criticised the decision to proceed with industrial action, saying unions and representative bodies had chosen disruption rather than substantive negotiations. A department spokesperson said officials remained available for talks and called for engagement without further delay, adding that progress would require sustained and constructive discussions from both sides.
Recognised primary and post-primary schools are invited to apply for funding to bring sustainability learning to life, through practical projects during the 2026/27 school year.
The Department of Education and Youth’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) up to 2030 funding call, offers grants of €1,000 to €2,500, with a total funding allocation of €1 million. Funding is competitive, and not all applications may be successful.
Building a More Sustainable Future Together Ireland’s National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, ESD to 2030, aims to equip every learner with the knowledge and skills to contribute to a sustainable future. The strategy recognises three connected dimensions of sustainability; protecting the environment, supporting social wellbeing and inclusion, and using economic resources responsibly. It encourages learners to put their knowledge into practice in their schools, homes and communities.
Five Pathways to Meaningful Change. Projects must support one or more of the strategy’s five priority action areas:
Advancing Policy: Embedding sustainability in education policies and planning.
Transforming Learning Environments: Developing a whole-school approach to sustainability.
Capacity Building of Educators: Strengthening the knowledge and skills of teachers and school leaders.
Empowering and Mobilising Youth: Creating opportunities for young people to take action.
Accelerating Local Level Action: Connecting schools and communities through shared sustainability initiatives.
Priority will be given to projects that include local action and/or capacity building for educators.
What Makes a Strong Application? Projects must support the implementation of ESD to 2030 and help school management, staff and/or students develop knowledge and skills for sustainable development.Applications will also be assessed on features such as curriculum links, a whole-school approach, practical action, peer learning, community engagement, volunteering and outdoor learning. Connections to the Sustainable Development Goals, inclusion of disadvantaged learners and learners with disabilities, and clear plans for monitoring progress will strengthen proposals. Other considerations include whether the project receives other public funding, whether the school has previously received ESD to 2030 funding, and whether it has adopted and published a Sustainability Policy Statement.
Projects do not need to meet every assessment criterion, but greater consideration will be given to applications meeting several of them.
Planning How the Grant Will Be Used Funding should support activities within the school. The call identifies funding for school use rather than fees for external services or programme providers as an assessment consideration.
Infrastructure costs, such as solar panels, insulation and energy-efficient lighting, are not covered. Successful schools must use the grant for the approved purpose during the 2026/27 school year. Any change requires the department’s explicit agreement in advance, and unspent funding must be returned.
Sharing Progress and Embedding Sustainability Successful applicants must report on the work completed and how the funding was spent. The application form requires an update by the end of May 2027, and an evaluation template will be provided. Schools that already have a Sustainability Policy Statement will receive priority. Remember to include the school’s full name, location and roll number in all correspondence. The department will acknowledge applications within five working days. If no acknowledgement arrives within that period, contact the department promptly to confirm receipt.
Submit Your Application by 23 October. Completed application forms must be emailed to ESD@education.gov.ie by 6:00pm on Friday, 23 October 2026.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome before the end of November 2026, with funding issued shortly afterwards. This is an opportunity for schools to turn sustainability education into practical action, strengthen community connections and give learners an active role in shaping a more sustainable future.
Funded schools without one must develop and publish a statement by the end of the 2026/27 school year and include its website link in their report.
Cllr. Jim Ryan deserves congratulations for taking the lead in demanding action on the condition of the River Suir in Thurles, and for securing a commitment that large fallen trees lying across the river will be removed as soon as possible.
At Monday’s Thurles District meeting, Cllr. Ryan pressed for a commitment to tackle the extensive weeds and reeds. Local representatives were presented with an outline rehabilitation plan for the river, with details expected to be finalised later this month.
River Suir, Thurles Town Centre.
Mr Fran Igoe of the ‘River Basin Management Service’, (formerly LAWPRO), explained that dredging or cutting vegetation alone is unlikely to resolve the underlying problems. Excess nutrients entering the river from agricultural run-off and other sources are contributing to the growth, and these causes must be addressed if improvements are to last.
LAWPRO’s recent change of name to the River Basin Management Service also deserves scrutiny. The stated justification is that the new title better reflects its expanded work and its role in coordinating Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan. However, the organisation confirms that its mission, structure and responsibilities remain unchanged. Residents are entitled to ask what the rebranding cost and what practical benefit it will bring to places such as Thurles.
Due to neglect, dredging can only be the answer to the Thurles, River Suir problem.
“This clearer name may help explain the service’s role, but its success must be judged by measurable improvements in water quality, effective coordination and delivery of promised action on the river Suir”, stated Cllr Ryan.
Nevertheless, concerns about the river’s condition deserve clear answers. Kick-sampling tests reportedly found little or no river-life activity. “Residents need to know what the findings mean and what measures, including any appropriate vegetation management, will form part of the rehabilitation plan”, he continued.
Refresh Thurles Tidy Towns volunteers who this week removed bottles and cans; whose presence on the riverbed had reportedly been well documented as sitting there for two years, after Cllr Ryan highlighted the problem. Disappointingly, further dumping was reported this morning. The council must now provide a suitable litter bin and arrange regular collection to support the efforts of these volunteers.
Deplorable state of River Suir permitted and acknowledged by Tipperary Co. Co..
With water levels rising, there are concerns that substantial work could be delayed until next spring or early summer. Any machinery access must also be carefully planned to protect the newly laid tarmac footpaths along the river bank.
European and Irish public funding already supports farmers in protecting waterways through ACRES, Farming for Water EIP and TAMS grants for measures such as buffer zones, fencing and alternative livestock drinking supplies. Payments depend on eligibility and approved actions, rather than simply owning riverside land.
“Residents are entitled to ask how these supports are being used in the Suir catchment and what measurable improvements they are delivering”, said Cllr. Ryan.
The commitment given to Cllr. Ryan to remove fallen trees is indeed a welcome step; but residents now need a clear timetable and a rehabilitation plan that delivers lasting improvements long term.
Today, Japan offers an example worth examining. VIEW HERE. Its school lunch approach brings together nutritionally balanced meals and shokuiku(Translated – Food Education). This connects what children learn about food with what they experience at mealtimes.
The lesson for our leaders is practical; make nourishing meals accessible and give children the knowledge to understand their food.
Delivering nutritious school meals and practical food education will require substantial investment in ingredients, facilities and trained staff. However, the potential returns extend well beyond the classroom. Research modelling stronger school meal standards suggests that healthier childhood diets could reduce diet-related illness and healthcare costs later in life. Over time, this could mean fewer avoidable hospital visits and admissions, less need for costly treatment and reduced pressure on our health service. These savings would take time and depend on the programme’s effectiveness, but investing in children’s nutrition today offers a valuable opportunity to prevent illness and its human and financial costs tomorrow.
We should work towards a school meal programme built around these priorities:
Nutritious, appealing meals: Support balanced menus developed with qualified nutrition professionals, with attention to children’s ages, allergies and dietary needs.
Access with dignity: Ensure that children from families facing financial hardship can participate without embarrassment or exclusion.
Practical food education: Help pupils learn about ingredients, cooking, food hygiene and reducing waste through activities suited to their age.
Support for local communities: Explore partnerships with local farmers and suppliers where these can meet quality, affordability and reliability requirements.
Resources and accountability: Give schools the funding, kitchen facilities and trained staff they need, then assess meal quality, participation, costs and food waste.
The lesson for our government leaders is practical; make nourishing meals accessible and give children the knowledge to understand the food they eat.
The purpose should be to nourish children and help them build a positive relationship with food. Success should include whether pupils enjoy their meals, have equitable access and gain useful knowledge.
Our political leaders can begin by bringing together educators, nutrition professionals, parents and pupils to design a practical pilot programme. Publish the findings, improve what needs work and expand what proves effective.
Finally, Ireland has shown before what determined political leadership can achieve for public health; from Dr Noel Browne’s leadership in the campaign against tuberculosis (TB) to Mr Micheál Martin’s introduction of the workplace smoking ban in 2004. Both demonstrate the importance of government taking responsibility for protecting people’s health. That same commitment should now inspire a sustained investment in nutritious school meals and practical food education. By making healthy food accessible to every child and teaching habits that can last a lifetime, today’s leaders have an opportunity to leave their own enduring legacy. Let us bring that ambition to our schools, giving every child a healthier start and a fairer chance to thrive.
Every school day offers an opportunity to invest in children’s wellbeing. Let us make the most of it; one nourishing meal and one useful lesson at a time.
Ireland’s free hot school meals programme is set for changes aimed at improving nutrition, offering more suitable portions and reducing the amount of food left uneaten.
Minister for Social Protection Mr Dara Calleary outlined the proposed reforms after Cabinet discussed two Government-commissioned reviews of the scheme. A cold lunch option, a standardised three-week menu and better provision for children with additional dietary needs are among the measures being considered. Discussions with schools and suppliers will now take place, with changes intended for the 2027/28 cycle.
Attention Turns From Expansion to Food Quality Following its nationwide extension in September 2025, the programme covers approximately 3,200 primary schools and more than 550,000 school children. Mr Calleary defended the scheme’s rapid growth and said it continues to provide valuable support to families. However, he acknowledged that improving the food itself must now become a central priority. The programme is estimated to save a household with two primary school children about €1,152 annually. An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin also recognised the scheme’s benefits while accepting that its quality and waste levels need attention.
Uneaten Meals Raise Difficult Questions The reviews indicate that roughly one in five meals supplied; approximately 100,000 a day, goes uneaten when pupil absences are taken into account, the proportion falls to 11.1%. Mr Calleary said his department takes food waste seriously, while noting that children being absent explains part of the problem. There are also questions about how waste is measured. Food Policy Ireland chief executive Ms Ruth Hegarty cited an estimated 6.3 million kilogrammes of food wasted over a school year, but questioned the basis for the reported uneaten-meal percentage because direct food waste audits had not been conducted in schools. The parent survey suggests that unfinished lunches predate the programme; almost half of respondents said their children previously brought food home uneaten.
Smaller Portions for Younger Pupils, More for Older Children A nutritional assessment examined 360 meals from 15 suppliers and included visits to 54 schools. It identified a problem with serving the same portion size across different age groups. Meals that may be sufficient for younger pupils can provide too few calories for older children. The review also found that children tended to select foods higher in fat, salt and sugar when those choices appeared alongside healthier alternatives. Proposed changes would introduce portions suited to different ages and a standardised menu rotating over three weeks. Menus would also be adapted for special schools, special classes and children with specific dietary requirements.
Parents Want Greater Lunch Flexibility A possible cold lunch option emerged as a strong theme in the feedback, with 84% of parents supporting its availability. The review recommends allowing children to choose a hot or cold meal on a given day, suggesting that greater flexibility could help reduce waste. The Ipsos/Behaviour & Attitudes research gathered responses from 86,637 parents and guardians, 6,884 children, 2,420 teachers and principals, and 47 suppliers, with 747 schools participating. Three-quarters of children said they ate at least some of their meal, while 63% of teachers and principals considered the programme’s overall impact positive. Meal ordering was strongest among younger children. Participation averaged 97% from Junior Infants to First Class, compared with 81% in Fifth and Sixth Class. The overall average was 85%.
The Government remains committed to extending the programme to secondary schools during its term. Mr Calleary has yet to announce a timetable for that expansion.
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