In April 2017 the minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton, announced the allocation of €2.4 million (over three years) in support of new initiatives identified in the areas of widening participation in access to primary and secondary education. 120 new teachers will be recruited to come on stream from disadvantaged groups which historically have been underrepresented. In particular those from:
Socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds (including lone parents)
Students with a disability
Members of the Traveller community
Turn to teaching: This project aims to increase the number of students from under-represented groups entering initial teacher education.
Pictured are one of our teachers James Cawley and professor Sharon Todd head of Education in Maynooth University at the launch of the event.