ACCS Info Note: Invitation to Regional Consultation Event for the National Convention on Education in Kinsale Community School on 23/03/26 at 10.30am
The Secretary,
Board of Management,
each Community and Comprehensive School.
Members of the Executive of ACCS.
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to share the following information regarding an upcoming event in Kinsale Community School.
You are warmly invited to attend a Regional Consultation Event for the National Convention on Education, which will take place at Kinsale Community School on: Monday, 23 March 2026 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
This event forms part of a major national process designed to shape the future direction of education in Ireland, and we would be delighted if you and members of your community could join us and contribute your perspective to the discussion.
We are particularly keen that this event reflects the voice of the wider community, patrons and stakeholders, all who contribute to your school. Your perspective will help ensure the conversation reflects the broader communities that support education.
This consultation is part of the National Convention on Education 2026, a significant national initiative being led by the Department of Education and Youth. The Convention will bring together 150 representatives of children and young people, parents and guardians, school staff and early years educators, and education stakeholders to consider key questions about the future of Irish education. The Convention will be chaired by Professor Anne Looney and follows a commitment in the Programme for Government to bring together stakeholders across society to discuss the future of the education system. The last convention of this scale took place in 1993 in Dublin Castle and was initiated by the then Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach.
To inform the Convention’s work, the Department has launched a National Conversation on Education, which includes a national survey, a submissions process, School Community Engagement events around the country, and a small number of Regional Consultation events.
Kinsale Community School has been invited by the Department to host one of only four Regional Consultation events nationally. During the event, participants will consider the key themes that have emerged from the national survey and school engagement events (which have already received more than 40,000 responses) and will be invited to help identify the most important priorities and any gaps that should inform the agenda of the Convention.
Your insights and experience would be greatly valued at this important conversation. We hope you will be able to join us and contribute your perspective to a national discussion about how education in Ireland can continue to evolve and support future generations. At the regional event, participants will be invited to consider the themes that have already emerged through the National Conversation and to share their views on whether these reflect the most significant issues that should be discussed at the Convention. Attendees will also have the opportunity to highlight any important gaps or priorities that may not yet have emerged, and which should be considered as part of shaping the Convention’s agenda.
If you are available to attend with any representatives that have a positive impact on your school community, we would be very pleased to welcome you.
Please complete the form below to confirm your attendance so that we can plan accordingly and organise refreshments for the event, by end of business on Monday 16th March. Please use a separate form for each attendee. We may need to close this form if we exceed numbers.
Regional Consultation Event Attendance Form – Fill out form
With warm regards,
Kathleen O’Brien,
Regional Education Convention Coordinator,
Deputy Principal,
Kinsale Community School
We would appreciate if this information could be shared with your school community.
Kind regards,
Áine O'Sullivan
General Secretary,
ACCS