Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland

⏰ Reminder ⏰

Members, remember to participate in the ASTI/RedC survey which was emailed last week - the closing date is 15th February.

This research is invaluable in highlighting current issues impacting on our members and strengthens our capacity to improve working conditions.

Thanks to Elaine Murphy, Organisational Psychologist and Senior Inspector from the HSA, for delivering training for ASTI Health & Safety Reps today in Head Office.

Members, an ASTI/RED C link has been emailed this week - we would be grateful if you could participate in this survey which primarily focuses on obtaining feedback on Senior Cycle Redevelopment from subject teachers.

The closing date is February 15th and it should take up to 10 minutes to complete.

Pictured below Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser with Martha Cleary, Mairéad O'Sullivan, Siobhán Fanning School Steward, Caoimhe Hyland, Katie McGowan on a school visit to St. Vincent's Secondary School, Cork.

Members, an ASTI/RED C link has been emailed this week - we would be grateful if you could participate in this survey which primarily focuses on obtaining feedback on Senior Cycle Redevelopment from subject teachers.

The closing date is February 15th and it should take up to 10 minutes to complete.

Pictured below Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser with Simon Kelliher, Regional Organiser & CEC, John Mullarkey, School Steward on a school visit to Presentation Brothers College, Cork.

The research is being undertaken by a research team from the University of Limerick, Mary Immaculate College and the Economic and Social Research Institute and is jointly funded by the Department of Education and Youth and the Teaching Council.

The Teachers’ Professional Journeys longitudinal research study The study will include teachers from the primary, post-primary and further education sectors. The survey will be open between mid-February and end of March 2026.

Post-primary teachers who graduated in 2019, 2022 and 2026 are invited to share their stories, challenges and successes in the Teachers’ Professional Journeys (TPJ) longitudinal research survey.

The survey will be open between mid-February and end of March 2026.

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

Pádraig Murphy, Honorary National Organiser Damien Carey, VP, Edel McGovern, School Steward, Catherine Fox, Chairperson of Desmond Branch and CEC, Bríd Lysaght, Principal, Christine Fitzgerald Regional Organiser (CEC) at a school visit to Nagle Rice Secondary School, Doneraile, Co. Cork.

Pictured below Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser with Noreen Magner, School Steward, Amelia Fitzgerald, School Steward Committee, Christine Fitzgerald Regional Organiser and CEC on a school visit to Coláiste Pobail Naomh Mhuire, Buttevant, Co. Cork

Pictured Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser with Jackie O'Rourke and Collette Carr school stewards in St Angela's College, Cork and Simon Kelliher Regional Organiser & CEC

Pictured Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser, Shola O'Riordan, Sophie O'Shea, Vincent Murray, Cork North Chairperson and CEC, Simon Kelliher, Regional Organiser and CEC, Robert Fitzgerald on a school visit to Scoil Mhuire, Cork

Applications are open for @childrensbooksireland.ie's book-gifting projects 2026-2027, inviting schools across Ireland to apply for hundreds of books for their library, class sets for their students to keep, visits from authors and illustrators, and more: childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/...

Delegates, make sure you are ready for Annual Convention 2026 - read the article in the latest ASTIR or check the webpage which will updated in the lead up to Convention: www.asti.ie/member-benef...

Principals’ burnout survey This study aims to better understand the experiences, demands, and supports that shape principal wellbeing in today’s educational landscape.

The Centre for Collaborative Research Across Teacher Education (CREATE) at @dcuioe.bsky.social is undertaking a research survey on principals’ mental health and burnout: www.asti.ie/news-campaig...

Look out for more training and seminars throughout the year on our events page: www.asti.ie/member-benef...

Thanks to all the members who attended School Leadership Training at the weekend with Pauline Egan (Director of Schools at Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board) and Mary Madden (Director of Schools in Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB) - we hope you found it useful.

Find the full article from ASTI General Secretary Kieran Christie in this month's ASTIR - in schools and online now: www.asti.ie/news.../late...

"By engaging collectively – locally, nationally and at European level – Irish teachers can ensure that AI is used ethically, democratically, and in ways that genuinely support teaching and learning."

Last year the ASTI Development Aid Fund was put to good use through donations to a number of worthy causes - three organisations we were proud to support in 2025 were Ethiopiaid, the Greater Chernobyl Cause and VITA ❤️

Pictured below, Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser with Leandra Tolentino and Sinead Kenny on a school visit to Skerries Community College, Co. Dublin.

Schools are more than places of work - Irish second-level education has been hampered by an overwhelming number of new initiatives and rapid curriculum redevelopment.

Find the full article from ASTI member Conor Murphy in this month's ASTIR - in schools and online now: www.asti.ie/news-campaig...

Executive Officer responsible for Development & Organisation, Desmond O'Toole, and Honorary National Organiser Pádraig Murphy hosted an online meeting for ASTI Regional Organisers from head office yesterday evening.

The January 2026 edition of ASTIR is now available online and in schools.
In this edition:
- MyUnion: updates and information for members
- Senior Cycle update
- Celebrating activists' contributions

Pictured are Richie Bell (Vice President), Padraig Curley (President) Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton and Kieran Christie (General Secretary).

Thanks to Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton for hearing the ASTI's concerns around Senior Cycle Redevelopment, the need to incentivise the teaching profession amid ongoing supply and retention challenges, and key issues relating to special education today.

Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser on a school visit to Coláiste Chríost Rí, Capwell Road, Cork City with Paul Kerrigan, Deborah Hennessy (School Steward), Gavin Foley, Pádraig Mac An Rí (Principal), Darragh Ducey, Molly McCarthy

Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser pictured with Katie Bergin, Liam Jordan, Noah Sherwood, Kevin Ronayne, Susan Evans, Cian Finn, Anne Moriarty (School Steward), Ciarán O' Cuanacháin in Douglas Community School

Pádraig Murphy, ASTI Honorary National Organiser pictured with Niamh O'Flynn, Megan Hough, Rachel Fenlon, Christine Wyse in Christ King Girls' Secondary School, Cork City

Pictured below Abi Gaughan from Mount St Michael Secondary School, Mayo presents Castaway - Redefining Orthopedic Recovery: A Study on the Efficacy of 3D-Printed Casts. Pictured also is teacher Stephanie Hogan, Padraig Curley and Kieran Christie