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Over €375m funding announced to help schools reopen at the end of August

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By Michelle Crean

 

Education Minister Norma Foley has this evening announced that schools will reopen at the end of August.

 

The Department is providing capital and current funding of over €375 million to support the safe and sustainable reopening of schools under the Reopening Our Schools - The Roadmap for the Full Return to School’.

The package includes:

  • Plans for an additional 1,080 teaching posts at post-primary level at a cost of €53 million, to include the following measures:

-       120 guidance posts will be provided to support student well-being

-       An initial allocation of over 600 posts to be made available to post-primary schools

-       Remaining posts will be used to support those post-primary schools experiencing particular difficulties to reopen fully and adhere to physical distancing and class sizes.

  • Additional funding, estimated at €84.7 million, so that schools can employ replacement teaching staff, SNA and administrative staff. This can occur where staff members who are identified in line with HSE guidance as at ‘very high risk’ of COVID-19 are advised to cocoon.
  • Additional funding of €41.2 million, to provide primary schools with substitute staff. This will provide more certainty on the availability of substitutes for primary schools and cover substitutions that are not covered by existing schemes, as well as where staff members who display symptoms cannot come to work in the school, in line with public health advice.
  • An estimated additional cost of €40m to provide post-primary schools with additional supervision of students. This will be a key control measure to support schools to minimising interaction of students from different classes, in line with public health advice.
  • An additional €52 million for schools to put in place enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools. This is being provided on a per-pupil basis and is intended to allow an additional four to six hours cleaning per day in schools.
  • Provide all teaching principals at primary level with a minimum of one release day per week to relieve the administrative burden arising from the changes and the impacts of COVID-19 and a new measure to provide deputy principals with some release days, ranging from five days to 16 days depending on the school size, to support administrative principals.
  • A €75 million capital allocation to support schools to prepare their buildings and classrooms for reopening including an uplift for schools with SEN pupils.
  • €4.2 million to enable schools to employ an aide to implement the logistical changes needed in schools – moving furniture, changing classroom layouts, set up hand sanitising stations, signage etc.
  • €3.8m to provide release time for each school to have a lead worker representative, whose role is to support the school to manage the risk of COVID-19 infections.

“This is a comprehensive plan that will support our schools to reopen for the new school year,” Minister Foley said.

“We have worked extremely hard to develop plans that not only provide certainty to schools as to what they need to do, but that are meaningful, practical, and realistic.

“There is a strong emphasis in the roadmap on safety, and on practical arrangements, but also on ensuring the well-being of the students and of the entire staff community. I am deeply conscious that children and young people have had their learning disrupted due to the global pandemic.

“Our schools now face another challenge, to support our students to return to and stay in school safely, to re-engage them and support them to settle in, and progress in their learning.

“I have today written to all members of school staff and to parents, thanking them for the roles they are playing and will continue to play as we return at the end of August. We will continue to communicate with schools and through them with parents and students, as schools return, and keep a close eye to ensure that the supports are working as they should. I am delighted we have been able to secure such a comprehensive package of support, which will ensure that at the end of August we will once again hear the joy and laughter of children and young people in our schools.”

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“Without supporters this club is nothing,” Kerry FC’s Darragh Foley

If so, who?Since I grew up a Man United fan I loved watching both De Gea and Romero. Both were amazing goalkeepers and I definitely idolised both for their amazing […]

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If so, who?
Since I grew up a Man United fan I loved watching both De Gea and Romero. Both were amazing goalkeepers and I definitely idolised both for their amazing shot stopping abilities.
What do you believe Colin Healy has brought to both life and football at Kerry FC Colin has changed the club in it’s entirety. Everyone has belief in the team that he has built and he is progressing the club both on and off the pitch. We are lucky to have him.
What strengths do you believe Kerry’s new signings can bring to the club as chemistry on the pitch and people off the pitch?
All the new boys are great. They’re very positive and have increased the quality of our squad. They have raised the intensity within training and brought us to another level.
During the 2025 season, Tim Oliver-Heimer was out for a huge majority of the season. In this time you gained a lot of first team experience. How do you believe this helped you and boost your career?
Firstly I’d like to say while Tim was injured he was the person who helped me the most. Always giving me advice and helping me whenever I needed it. I appreciate all that he did for me. In regards to the experience of playing, i loved it and now that i have gone through those 7 games, I now understand what is expected of me in this league and what it takes to perform.
Early in your career you spent some time at the Treaty United Academy. How do you believe they helped you early in your career?
The first year and a half I had at Treaty were amazing. I’m still friends with a lot of my teammates and loved the experience. The goalkeeper coaches I had there were brilliant with me and the improvements I made there and the experiences I had were vital for my development to where I am now.
What do you believe Kerry FC can push for this season?
I believe for us, it’s always about being better and aiming for more. We have improved season on season and I believe we can do more again this season. We shouldn’t be scared of any team going into the season ahead and after that as well.
What do you believe is the best way to motivate your team pre-match and throughout a match?
The best way to motivate anyone is to encourage and guide someone, particularly when they aren’t playing well. My teammates and the coaching staff do that well and there is always constant reminders of each players abilities and how good they should be doing and what they are capable of.
As a goalkeeper you’re role is vital. Describe o me your sort of playing style.
I love getting involved, which I think is more of a modern style. I don’t like letting the game come to me (even if sometimes it’s necessary), I usually like to get on the ball early and get a few touches before anything major happens so that I’m comfortable throughout the game.
What has been a stand-out moment so far in your career?
For me it’s going to be winning the U20 Shield Final against Rovers. Best day of my life, nothing will beat the feeling of the winning goal going in or the final whistle. Being able to win Kerry’s first silverware with so many of my friends is an experience I’m so grateful for.
In years to come, is there a legacy you would like to leave at Kerry FC and Irish football?
It’s a big question as I don’t like looking too far in to the future, in my opinion the short term creates what happens in the long term. But I would like to make an impact while I’m here, whether that’s performing on the field, or inspiring young keepers throughout the county or even if life takes me elsewhere, I would like to bring the skills I learned and am still learning with Kerry with me.
What do you want the Kerry supporters to know at full time?
That their support means everything. They make playing for Kerry so special. Without them this club is nothing. It was nice knowing that they had our backs every time we stepped on the pitch and that they have faith in both us and the coaches.
What do you believe is something football has taught you in life?
That things can change so quickly. When the draw was made for Shamrock Rovers semi-final, I still hadn’t even made my debut yet. But all of a sudden on a Friday night in UCD, I was quickly thrown in for my first game just like that. Things never stay the same whether good or bad.
If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
To just trust the process. When things get bad, don’t get too low when things get too comfortable. It’s a long journey, so every second counts. I’m glad I am where I am, and I’m happy with what I’ve achieved so far.

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Killarney Ploughing Match a success

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The annual Killarney Ploughing Match was held last Sunday at Coffey’s Farm in Fossa, following several weather-related postponements.

A total of 13 competitors took part in the event, which marked the final match of the Kerry ploughing season.


The competition saw a high standard across various classes, with several standout local performances.

Michael J Donegan secured 110 points to lead the Senior team, while Tommy McCarthy topped the 2-Furrow reversible class with 113 points.

Young member Ryan Wharton also had a successful day, earning 60 points in the Macra class. Ryan is currently vying for a qualification spot at the All-Ireland Ploughing Finals, set to take place in Tullamore this coming September.

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