Who might be the next Minister for Education?
With the General Election out of the way, the expected anti-climax of having the government we thought we’d have is an anti-climax. Speaking of which, who is likely to be the new Minister for Education in the new government? While we don’t know what parties are going to be in the next government, right now it’s most likely to consist of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. If it’s a Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael Minister for Education, I’m going to lay my bets of who it’s going to be with some brief commentary, in order of who I think is most likely to get the ticket.
(If another party goes into coalition, I think the education portfolio might be up for grabs so I’ll update this article if that happens.)
1. Patrick O’Donovan (FG)
O’Donovan is my favourite to take on this role. That shouldn’t be read as my favourite in anything but the betting sense. On a positive, O’Donovan is likely to ensure that the slight improvements to Special Education reforms continue. It is possible that better funding will also be something he may fight for as a former primary school teacher. However, on the downside, I was extremely frustrated by his attitude to the role of religion in schools. In the INTO primary education debate, he defended the status quo saying that he wants his children to go to a Catholic school to make their sacraments. Whatever tiny progress is being made in this area is going to be curtailed by this attitude. Fine Gael have removed any mention of progress on patronage from their manifesto. With O’Donovan at the reins, I see little hope of anything positive for the thousands of families and teachers who are affected by the patronage model.
2. Norma Foley (FF)
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Norma Foley back in the education portfolio. As much as she is almost universally unpopular with teachers, she is popular with voters who see free school books, free school lunches, free school buses, and other goodies as the yardstick for an education minister, who has reduced primary education to an expensive childcare service in her tenure. I never comment on second level but I can’t help but notice that the vitriol from experts is palpable. Foley’s gaffes with the mobile phone pouch plan and her crisis/opportunity will have done her no favours but I can’t think of too many others in the party that could take the position. Speaking of which…
3. Thomas Byrne (FF)
It was somewhat of a surprise that when Fianna Fáil got into power and got the Minister for Education portfolio that Thomas Byrne, who was their education spokesperson in opposition, didn’t get the nod. From my point of view, his involvement in the end of the so-called Baptism Barrier was interesting in that he was slightly more progressive than Fine Gael’s proposals. However, they fell very short of being close to what was needed. Byrne seems to have continued to flirt around the education sector in his current ministry so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him finally get the post in favour of Norma Foley. However, I’m not confident we’d see a revolutionary.
4. Pádraig O’Sullivan (FF)
A teacher, (Michael O’Leary would be appalled,) O’Sullivan’s interests seem to be in Special Education. This might prime him for a Junior Ministry in Special Education if there’s a Fine Gael Minister for Education.
5. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG)
A TD that is in the ascendancy, Carroll MacNeill would be a left of field possibility for the portfolio. I know very little about her credentials but she is one of the more well-known Ministers without one of the major portfolios. Thinking back to the previous four Ministers for Education, it’s been either a complete unknown, such as Joe McHugh and Norma Foley, or a very senior politician like Richard Bruton and Ruairi Quinn. With education in a neglected space, it could be a good opportunity for an up-and-coming politician to make their mark. We are due a Donagh O’Malley particularly in the area of Special Education and Patronage.
6. Cathal Crowe (FF)
Infamously did one day of subbing during the COVID-19 pandemic, which backfired when it came across as being critical of his colleague Norma Foley. Crowe is a qualified primary school teacher but has never really raised his head above the parapet in terms of leadership. I can’t see him advocating for any changes to patronage. Probably would be a Joe McHugh type Minister — a friendly face but no real push to challenge the system.
7. Catherine Callaghan (FG)
Callaghan is a Special Needs Assistant and would make for a very interesting Minister for Education. It’s her first time elected so it would be a massive jump. I’m not exactly sure what she stands for in terms of education so her high rank here might be because she is likely the most qualified to tackle Special Education, which may be Fine Gael’s only interest in its primary education manifesto.
8. John Connolly (FF)
A primary school principal and now a TD, being elevated to Minister for Education wouldn’t be too surprising given that first-time TD Norma Foley got the nod last time. However, this time there are probably a few people ahead of him in the queue. Not someone who is known in primary education circles, it is difficult to know where he stands on issues in education.
9. Hildegarde Naughton (FG)
Currently the Minister for Special Education, this could be a stepping stone for the main Minister for Education job. Unfortunately, Naughton probably didn’t have much time to get to grips with her portfolio after Josepha Madigan finished up.
10. Niall Collins (FF)
Collins has been in the role of Further Education since 2020. This would be a promotion. An experienced politician with various major roles in previous governments, he might steady the ship in the position. I’ve never heard any noise from him about primary education and I can’t think of why he would be chosen over others for the role.
11= Aisling Dempsey (FG)
To be honest, the only reason to include Dempsey in this role is because her father was the Minister for Education in infamous times. This Dempsey has no background in education, and given her construction background, it’s more likely something in housing would await her.
11= Emer Currie (FG)
Another outside possibility due to her position in the Seanad as spokesperson on Special Education, she comes from a political family, with Austin Curry her father. She is Leo Varadkar’s successor and is in a young constituency. Her roles in public life have been hugely varied so it’s difficult to see how she would jump to the top of the list.
11= Grace Boland (FG)
Another daughter of a former Minister for Education, this Boland also has no background in education. Her Fine Gael page profile makes a point of her having school-going children but I’m not sure if that offers anything of merit. However, her legal background might point to something in Justice rather than education.
