Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton said that this convention is "the voice of young people". File photograph: CollinsHildegarde Naughton has defended the decision not to hold a Citizens’ Assembly on education, saying a convention was more appropriate structure. The Minister for Education and Youth was speaking to the 150 people gathered in Athlone for the first meeting of the Government’s convention on education. However, the pledge was dropped from the current programme for government and last year then minister for education Helen McEntee announced the convention format instead. Naughton described it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to shape Ireland’s education system “for decades to come”.

Source: The Irish Times March 21, 2026 23:17 UTC