Press release
Minister Foley announces addition of the Irish Second Level Students’ Union to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Education Norma Foley has signed a Statutory Instrument, updating the membership of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to include the President of the Irish Second Level Students’ Union (ISSU).
Minister Foley said:
"I am delighted to include the ISSU on the Council of the NCCA. The important work of the NCCA in the development of curricula will be greatly enhanced by the inclusion of the student voice.
"We have seen in recent years an improvement in the inclusion of student views in education policy making. The ISSU played a hugely important role during the pandemic, for example, in the development of solutions to the challenges facing the education system, in particular at Senior Cycle.
"I am committed to placing the student at the centre of education strategy and policy development and this is a significant step in that ambition."
Emer Neville, President of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union said:
"I am very pleased that the Minister has today signed this statutory instrument, to include the ISSU as a full member of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. This is a ground-breaking move, recognising the need to have the voice of students at the table, when important decisions are being made about their education and solidifying their role as key stakeholders in education.
"The ISSU welcomes this and we look forward to making a real contribution to the work of the NCCA, reflecting the views of our student members, over the coming years."
Professor Mary O’Sullivan, interim Chairperson of the NCCA said:
"A key principle of the NCCA’s Strategic Plan is to actively promote the right of children and students to have their voices heard and included in shaping the curriculum and assessment advice we develop. I welcome the Minister’s decision to create a Statutory Instrument to add student membership to Council. I look forward to welcoming an ISSU student nominee and I know Council members and I as Chair will be delighted to help facilitate their full engagement with Council business during this significant period of ongoing change to the Irish educational system."
Emer Neville, President of the ISSU for 2021/22, will be invited to the next meeting of the NCCA on 12 and 13 May.
The NCCA advises the Minister for Education on curriculum and assessment from early childhood to the end of second level education. It engages with learners, teachers, practitioners, parents and others to support innovation in schools and other educational settings. It undertakes, uses and shares research as a basis for advice and debate on education.
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The Council comprises 26 members with a current term of four years up to 28 February 2026.
The NCCA was established under the Education Act 1998 and the object of the Council shall be to advise the Minister on matters relating to:
(a) the curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools, and
(b) the assessment procedures employed in schools and examinations on subjects which are part of the curriculum.
The Council also has two sub-committees – an Audit and Risk Committee and a Governance Committee. As part of NCCA structures there are three Boards that report to the Council on Early Childhood and Primary, Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle. These three Boards are chaired by the two Deputy Chairs and another Council member.
The Council is responsible for directing the NCCA’s activities, providing strategic guidance to the executive team and monitoring the effectiveness of management.
The Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards specify that there are certain specific exceptions to the arrangements laid down in the guidelines relating to the appointment of persons to State Boards, including:
“Where an agreement or arrangement is in place under which Ministers seek nominations for appointment to State Boards from key stakeholder organisations (such as trade unions, employer organisations, farming representatives or voluntary bodies)”.
In accordance with Section 40 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister consulted with relevant stakeholders on the addition of the ISSU to the NCCA and the response was overwhelmingly positive.
The NCCA currently has a full time executive staff of 47 led by the Chief Executive.
In 2022, the NCCA is grant-funded by the department in the amount of approximately €6 million.
The website of the NCCA is available at www.ncca.ie.
The ISSU is the national umbrella body for second-level student councils in Ireland. The ISSU represents Irish second-level students on a local, regional, national and international level.
The main object for which the ISSU is established is to contribute to the advancement of second-level education of all second-level students in order to improve and enrich the education of each student and to support the involvement of students at all stages of their education so that they achieve their full potential, and as responsible citizens, improve society.
The Coiste Gnó (National Student Executive) acts on behalf of the ISSU on a daily basis and is the group of young people who publicly represent the organisation. The Coiste Gnó is elected annually at An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil (Annual Assembly).
Emer Neville is the Uachtarán (President) of the ISSU for the 2021/22 year. Emer has been involved with the ISSU for several years now, previously having served as a Tipperary Regional Officer and the Coiste Gnó Communications Officer for 2020/21.
Membership of the NCCA is now as follows:
| Basis of appointment | Name |
| Appointed by the Minster for Education | Mary O’Sullivan, Interim Chair |
| Nominee of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) | *Joe McKeown, Vice Chairperson |
| Nominee of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) | *Michael Redmond, Vice Chairperson |
| Appointed by the Minster for Education (PAS process) | *Teresa Hagan |
| Nominee of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (PAS process) | *Sheila Garrity |
| Nominee of the State Examinations Commission (SEC) | *Elaine Sheridan |
| Nominee of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) | *Anne McHugh |
| Nominee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) | *David Duffy |
| Nominee of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) | *Liz Farrell |
| Nominee of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) | Mairin Ni Chéileachair |
| Nominee of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) | *Carmel Browne |
| Nominee of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) | Deirdre McDonald |
| Nominee of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) | *Ed Byrne |
| Nominee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) | *Brian Tubbert |
| Nominee of the JMB | *Patricia Gordon |
| Nominee of the National Parents’ Council (Post-primary) | Martina O’Shea |
| Nominee of the National Parents’ Council (Primary) | Clare Downey |
| Nominee of the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE) | *Finn O’ Murchú |
| Nominee of Ibec | Meadbh Costello – interim appointee |
| Nominee of the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA) | Rory D’Arcy |
| Nominee of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) | Deirdre Ní Mhurchú |
| Nominee of the Department of Education | *Orlaith O’Connor |
| Nominee of Foras na Gaeilge | *Edel Ní Chorráin |
| Nominee of the Church of Ireland Board of Education (CIBE) | *Joyce Perdue |
| Nominee of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) | Denis Ring |
| President of the ISSU | Emer Neville |