NPF Admin

The National Principals’ Forum (NPF) today met with the Minister for Education, Hildegarde Naughton TD, marking a significant milestone for the group and its longstanding work on behalf of Irish primary school principals and the children in their care. This engagement represents an important acknowledgement of the Forum’s role and contribution to educational leadership over […]

In response to today’s launch of the Redeveloped Primary Curriculum Specifications, the National Principals Forum (NPF) acknowledges that this would be a positive step in Irish education, but warns that unless systemic underfunding and under-resourcing of our primary education system is addressed in an urgent and serious way, the implementation of this new curriculum will

Campaign Title: “Leadership in Crisis: A Budget 2026 Call to Lighten the Load for Primary School Principals” Overview The National Principals’ Forum (NPF) calls on the Government of Ireland to urgently address the unsustainable conditions facing primary school principals. Based on the 2025 Principal Workload Survey (with over 400 respondents), it is clear that the

1. Executive Summary Despite repeated assurances from educational stakeholders, the role of the primary school principal in Ireland has become increasingly unsustainable. In June 2025, over 400 principals responded to the National Principals’ Forum (NPF) workload survey. Their responses provide a stark and unified message: the burden continues to grow, support remains elusive, and systemic

On Wednesday, February 26th Alan Ó’ Ceallaigh represented the NPF on Virgin Media’s The Tonight Show. He was joined by panelists Rebecca Meehan, Michael Carrigy (FG TD), Niamh Griffin & Clare Kerrane (SF TD) to discuss the chronic shortage of services for children with special needs. Gavan Reilly hosted the show and has regularly highlighted

A survey of over 550 primary school leaders has revealed that 71% believe their SET Allocations for the 2025-26 academic year are inadequate to meet their school’s needs. For the second consecutive year, Complex Needs criteria were not considered in the allocation process, with an overwhelming 83% of respondents stating that this omission fails to

With the election likely to be called for late November, the National Principals’ Forum has developed a leaflet to share with would-be politicians. Please download and print the pdf and pass it on to anyone that calls to your door.

It’s enough to make Minister Foley say (p)Ouch. The National Principals’ Forum is in disbelief that Budget 2025 has not delivered for the primary education system in any meaningful way. Free school books, free school lunches and free bus transport, as welcome as they may be for parents, will do nothing to offset the spiraling

Prioritise Education – Invest in our Children! The National Principals’ Forum publishes its lobby campaign for Budget 2025 today. Please see the Budget Proposal Poster and a Briefing Document below. Poster Briefing Document

Several principals from the National Principals’ Forum were part of a delegation of primary principals who, on Wednesday, June 19th, made a presentation to Senators, TDs, and their officials in the AV Room of Leinster House. We laid bare the stark reality of life in our Irish primary schools.  We focused on three main areas: