Pam Nolan, Head of HR, ETBI; Minister Sean Fleming; Suzanne Hoey, Communications Officer, Laois and Offaly ETB and Evelyn Dunne, Chairperson, Laois and Offaly ETB.

Laois and Offaly ETB calls on Government to tackle inequalities in education

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Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (ETB) is calling on the Government to commit to tackling inequalities in the education sector by supporting the priorities laid out in its campaign: #SupportYourLocalETB

Representatives from Laois and Offaly ETB met with members of the Oireachtas at a briefing event in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, last week, where they expressed their concerns.

Laois-Offaly TDs in attendance included Minister Sean Fleming, Deputy Brian Stanley and Deputy Carol Nolan.

The event marked the official launch of the #SupportYourLocalETB campaign and was organised by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the representative body of 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) nationwide.

The four priorities outlined in the #SupportYourLocalETB campaign that ETBI and its members are calling for the Government to support are:

1. Increase the number and profile of Community National Schools nationwide;

2. Increase in the Deputy Principal allocation in ETB post-primary schools with DEIS designation;

3. Increase in funding for Further Education and Training (FET) so that funds reflect the proportion of learners, and ring-fence €600m in funding for the FET Colleges of the Future project, due to commence in 2028;

4. Restore funding for youth work to pre-austerity levels and ensure pay parity for youth workers.

Launching the campaign at Buswells Hotel, last week, ETBI General Secretary Paddy Lavelle told invited TDs: "The 16 ETBs across Ireland provide education and training opportunities for over 450,000 people.

"We do this through running primary and post-primary schools, and providing Further Education and Training opportunities, including apprenticeships. We are also heavily involved in youth work.

"Laois and Offaly ETB and all ETBs nationwide offer excellent, equality-based, inclusive educational opportunities to learners of all ages. We are proud to support Ireland’s diverse population of learners – and have a proven track record of doing so.

"We are delighted to launch our #SupportYourLocalETB campaign and our political priorities for the coming year. We are calling on the Government to commit to supporting our work.

"TDs can also raise these issues at local and national levels of Government, and ensure these priorities are included in their party's manifesto for the next General Election," Mr Lavelle said.

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