TUI secures significant additional supports for implementation of Senior Cycle redevelopment
‘We will continue to ensure that our members’ concerns are addressed’
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has announced a range of additional supports for Senior Cycle redevelopment and a number of clarifications around key issues.
TUI members accepted an initial package of support measures in a national ballot in May 2025. Members were not voting on the actual curriculum, which the Minister has the power to prescribe under the Education Act, and which other stakeholders have no veto over.
Since then, the TUI has engaged intensively with the Department of Education and Youth around key issues and additional resources and clarifications have now been confirmed to the union.
Speaking today, TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie said that the union will continue to engage with the Department around the critical area of resourcing for the redevelopment.
‘We will continue to ensure that the concerns of our members around Senior Cycle redevelopment are urgently addressed with the Department as the programme continues to roll out,’ he said.
‘The revised programme must not increase the pressure on students or the already excessive workload of teachers, and the Leaving Certificate’s hard-won integrity and standing must be upheld.’
A summary of the main supports/clarifications that have been confirmed to the Union is set out below. Full details can be seen in the letter from the Department of Education and Youth accessible from THIS LINK.
Laboratory assistants/ICT technicians
The Union had raised the concerns of members in relation to safety in school laboratories and it has been agreed with the TUI that the introduction of laboratory assistants/ICT technicians will be explored.
Implementation grant to schools
In addition to supports already agreed, an implementation support grant totalling €2m will be made available to schools. In addition, the Department will review the annual science subject grant immediately following the first Leaving Certificate examinations of the Tranche 1 subjects.
Workload Working group, AI Taskforce and Post Primary Implementation Group
The TUI has attended meetings of these groups for a number of months and will continue to raise the critical concerns of our members in these fora. It is confirmed that the Implementation group will now also discuss the timing and frequency of formal reporting to parents given the additional workload involved with Additional Assessment Components (AACs)
Voluntary relocation scheme
The Department will consider a joint proposal from the TUI and the ETBI on the introduction of a pilot voluntary relocation scheme in the ETB sector. This has long been sought by TUI members in the sector.
Right to disconnect
The Department will engage with TUI and other stakeholders about the right to disconnect. This discussion will take account of: raising awareness of the right to disconnect; encouraging respectful communication practices; making use of technological solutions to facilitate disconnection and creating clear guidelines and guardrails.
New Senior Cycle redevelopment and L1/L2 posts
It has been confirmed that these posts will be permanent and operate in the same way and have the same status as other AP1/AP2 posts. It has also been confirmed to the TUI that the time allocation of these posts will be returned in schools and given in full to the teachers appointed to these posts irrespective of the contract hours of said teachers.
Confirmation of legal indemnity
As confirmed to the TUI in November 2025, teachers involved in the authentication process have legal protection based in cases where they cannot, for valid reasons, authenticate coursework which gives rise to reporting of a suspected inauthentic coursework to the State Examinations Commission. No new guarantees have been given in this regard. The commitment given to the TUI in November 2025 remains.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) Link modules
The Department has confirmed to TUI that it will maintain the current LCVP supports to schools even though the programme is now called Life Community and Work (LCW), including as appropriate the maintenance of a co-ordinator post.
State Examinations Commission preparatory fee
In the small number of subjects which have practical components and which teachers are required to prepare materials for candidates in advance of the examination, teachers will continue to be paid a fee for the work.
Oral examinations
The parameters that apply to assessment in given subjects has been clarified and is consistent with TUI policy, NCCA documentation and clarifications given to the TUI previously.
Oide feedback
Agreement that a facility will be developed that will allow teachers to provide feedback on training to Oide in addition to feedback they can give on day of the training.