Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland

In the November 2025 issue of ASTIR in schools and online now:

📉 Ireland ranks last in OECD for investment in second-level education - just 0.8% of GDP.

Find the full article here:

www.asti.ie/news-campaig...

NCCA consultations NCCA consultations

ASTI is encouraging members to get involved in NCCA in Senior Cycle Redevelopment consultations - see link - tinyurl.com/3w9tmvtm

Members, remember to have your say on the Draft Specification for Leaving Certificate Computer Science before the closing date of 26th November.

Deputy General Secretary Diarmaid de Paor giving Board of Management training to members this morning in ASTI Head Office. For more information and to sign up for ASTI training sessions please see: www.asti.ie/member-benefits/events/search/?keyword=&type=3&submit=

Pádraig Murphy Honorary National Organiser on a school visit to Mountrath Community School, Co. Laois with David Whelan, Cillian Hegarty, Elaine Copeland, Rita Moore School Steward, Principal Kathryn O'Brien, Ruth Kelly, Collette Byrne and Aisling Ní Bhroin

Thanks to all the ASTI School Stewards who attended online training today with Desmond O'Toole and to those who attended our three other sessions last month.

Keep up to date with our upcoming training days and seminars here: www.asti.ie/member-benef...

Pictured below Honorary National Organiser Pádraig Murphy, Glenn Webster Deputy Principal, Caitríona Nic Éinrí school steward, Barry Hennessy and Zoe Windsor at a school visit to Coláiste Éanna, Ballyroan, Dublin 16

Email training@asti.ie to sign up or find more information here: www.asti.ie/member-benef...

Deputy General Secretary Diarmaid de Paor delivered online training for teacher representatives on Boards of Management yesterday - we are holding two more BoM training days in 2025:

- Wed 12th Nov: Head Office
- Wed 19th Nov: Online

IR Official Conor McDonald delivered an online information seminar yesterday evening on job sharing and career break - we are holding many more seminars and training days in 2025/2026, sign up here: www.asti.ie/member-benef...

Members, remember to have your say on the Draft Specification for Leaving Certificate Computer Science before the closing date of 26th November.

Members are reminded that the NCCA are consulting on the Background Paper and Brief for Tranche 4 Leaving Certificate subjects:

- Art
- Economics
- Gaeilge
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Politics and Society
- Technology

Don't forget to take part in the process before the deadline of 12 November.

Denis O’Boyle, (West Mayo) & Ger O’Donoghue, (Limerick South), were recently reselected to represent the ASTI on the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Retired Workers Committee for 2025 to 2027. They attended the first meeting of the new committee recently - pictured below outside the ICTU office.

At DCU Union Open Day today Immediate Past President Donal Cremin, Industrial Relations Official Desmond O'Toole and Honorary National Organiser Pádraig Murphy are ready to explain the importance of joining a union and the benefits of ASTI membership.

Meeting members in Rice College, Ennis, Co. Clare. Pictured are Eimear Holly (school steward), Siobhán Dunne (school steward committee member), Laura Whelan, Sarah Rooney, Erica Grehan and Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser

Members Mmaeze Amaeze, Shauna O'Donovan and Peter O'Grady welcomed ASTI HNO Pádraig Murphy to Mungret Community College Limerick today.

HNO Pádraig Murphy visited St.Louis Secondary School Monaghan Town where he met members Principal James Sherry, Cian Brennan, Taylor Foy and Dylan Foley.

HNO Pádraig Murphy with members from St. Macartan's College, Monaghan today including School Steward Finbar Burns.

ASTI outlined the key concerns of teachers regarding Senior Cycle Redevelopment to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth today. President Pádraig Curley and General Secretary Kieran Christie are pictured with the committee chair Cathal Crowe TD.

Droichead | Registration with Condition(s) | | The Teaching Council Droichead is the induction process for: Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) Teachers who have not previously completed the required period of professional practice It is the →

The Teaching Council has updated its registration regulations for teachers qualified outside of Ireland.
Eligible teachers can apply for registration and Droichead between October 22, 2025 and December 31, 2027. For more information please see the Teaching Council website.

ASTI is proud to endorse Belong To's Stand Up Awareness Week 2025 (3 to 7 November), which tackles anti-LGBTQ+ bullying in post-primary schools, youth services and Youthreach centres across Ireland.

www.asti.ie/news-campaig...

Thanks to the ASTI Regional Organisers who came in to head office for their meeting today with Pádraig Murphy the Honorary National Organiser, VP Richie Bell and IR Official Desmond O'Toole.

Cavan Chair Michelle Rogan, Vice Chair Joan Fitzpatrick, Sec. Victoria Kells, Treasurer Gerard Sharpe & Organiser Garry Duignan welcomed Breda Lynch (IRO), David Carolan (Regional Organiser), Louis Callaghan (SC Rep Region 12), Richie Bell (VP) & Pádraig Murphy (HNO) last night.

During a visit to Pobalscoil na Rossan, Dungloe, Co. Donegal today, Honorary National Organiser Pádraig Murphy met with Kevin Boyle, Chair of the Iar Thuaisceart Thir Chonaill Branch, and Donegal Senior footballer Michael Langan.

Draft Specification for Leaving Certificate Computer Science Get involved and have your say on the draft specification

The Draft Specification for Leaving Certificate Computer Science has been approved for public consultation.

This consultation period runs from 1st of October to 26th of November.

Get involved and have your say: www.asti.ie/news-campaig...

NCCA Consultation Process Tranche 4 Subjects The ASTI strongly encourages members to take part in the consultation process.

The NCCA are consulting on the Background Paper & Brief for Tranche 4 subjects - the public consultation on the Background Paper & Brief is open between 1 October and 12 November.

We strongly encourages members to take part in the consultation process - www.asti.ie/news-campaig...

Honorary National Organiser Pádraig Murphy, President Pádraig Curley and Vice President Richie Bell were delighted to meet technology teachers at the Techno Teachers Annual Conference in Limerick this weekend.

Pictured below Caolan Ward, Donegal senior football team Gaelic Footballer in Saint Eunan's College, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal with ASTI President Pádraig Curley and ASTI Honorary National Organiser Pádraig Murphy

At Saint Eunan's College Letterkenny, School Steward Mary McGettigan and School Committee members Gracie Peoples and Maria McElwaine welcomed President Pádraig Curley and Honorary National Organiser Pádraig Murphy on their visit.

Pictured below is Pádraig Murphy at a school visit today at Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair with Sarah Nic Roibeárd, Michelle Uí Fhearghuasa, Sally Ní Mhaolchulainn, Leanna Ní Bhaoill, Ita Uí Ghallchóir