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Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Wicklow community launches petition to stop deportation of much-loved Georgian family
The lives of Keti (28), Giorgi (33), and their four-year-old son were upended when Giorgi was arrested in June from the IPAS centre in Bray, where the family have been living, and taken to Cloverhill Prison. He has since been deported. It is understood the family were to present themselves for deportation later that month having been denied asylum, but they said they had previously lodged an appeal hoping it would stay the deportation order. Keti, a childcare worker who is employed at a creche in Greystones, is in the dark over when she and her son will be deported and a petition was launched by a close friend calling on the State to halt the deportation of Keti and her son, to allow Giorgi to return to Ireland, and for a fair, urgent review of their asylum appeal to be conducted. In submitting the appeal in April, the family's solicitor included details of 'new evidence of danger in Georgia', and Alisa Lurchenko, who moved here from Ukraine 13 years ago and has Irish citizenship, said the family has been targeted by organised criminals in Georgia. Since the deportation order was issued, Keti's father was physically attacked, which is 'a chilling confirmation of the risks they face, especially with a young child involved'. Keti now fears for her son's safety if they are forced to return, as she believes these same criminals pose a direct threat to their lives. Their family, Alisa said, has been threatened by organised criminal groups but stressed they are not, nor ever have been, involved in crime Alisa said that Keti has not been able to reveal to her son what has happened to his father, who was working as a driver for a construction company, when he asks, 'Where is daddy?', and has to say he's on holidays, because he doesn't understand why his father is no longer with them. Both Keti and Giorgi were given permission to work in Ireland six months after they had applied for asylum. Keti then completed a QQI Level 5 Early Learning and Care course and was employed by the Greystones creche. They were both paying taxes and Keti was planning on undertaking the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care. Keti's employer provided a reference in support of her application, which stated she was a valued part of the team. Concerns have also been raised for the family's son, who only speaks English, and is at a critical stage in his development and continuity of education and social surroundings are crucial. When the case of Keti, Giorgi and their son was put to the Department of Justice, a spokesperson said the department was unable to comment on individual cases. 'The [Justice] Minister is committed to ensuring that Ireland's immigration system is robust, and rules-based,' the spokesperson said. "The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our legislation in this area. 'Department officials aim to process families in a holistic manner and the consideration of a child's immigration case is highly dependent on the status of their parents. Each child's circumstances are examined in detail before a deportation order is made and voluntary return is offered. "If deportation orders are made against a family, the parents are informed of this and are required to engage with gardaí to make arrangements to leave Ireland with a timeframe. If a person does not comply with the order to leave the State within the timeframe they can be arrested and detained in order to make the arrangements for their deportation. Children are never detained. 'The Minister recognises that an enforced removal is an unfortunate and challenging experience for a child, which is why they are carried out only as a measure of last resort when the family concerned has not removed themselves from the State as they are legally required to. 'The preferred option is to return people voluntarily and the department operates a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. This programme offers families a reintegration grant to help them resettle in their home countries. "People are strongly encouraged to avail of this option and are informed of this option at each stage of the International Protection process, and when they are issued with an intention to deport under the Immigration Act 1999. The number of voluntary returns has increased by 195pc for the same period in 2024 (895 in 2025 and 303 up to 19 July 2024),' it concluded. The petition to 'Stop the Deportation of Keti, Giorgi, and Their 4-Year-Old Son' can be found on
Irish Independent
01-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
The Wicklow adult education graduate finding her way in Ireland – ‘Before I did these courses, I felt dependent'
Bray People A woman from Bangladesh who arrived in Ireland less than one year ago, with very little English, was able to stand up in front of a group of her peers and their families and give a speech at her graduation ceremony recently in Bray, Co Wicklow. Surovi Akter qualified from Bray Adult Learning Centre last month with a QQI Level 4 English and Level 4 IT, and although she admitted struggling with the language barrier when she arrived in Ireland with her husband, who is also from Bangladesh but has a Portuguese passport, has now reached a level of proficiency in English and IT to be able to go to the jobs market with a lot more confidence.
Extra.ie
08-06-2025
- Extra.ie
Plumbers' exam springs a leak as apprentices share questions
A state exam for plumbers was leaked, complete with answers, and widely circulated online just days before apprentices sat the test, has learned. Solas, the agency that took over State apprenticeships from Fás in 2013, expressed 'great concern' about the leak and said it is 'taking this matter very seriously'. However, a union for tradespeople this weekend said there are 'a lot of questions about the delivery of apprenticeships and standard of quality assurance' from Solas. An apprentice plumber who sat the leaked test in March told 'This is a QQI Level 6 exam – a State exam higher than the Leaving Cert – and we had questions and answers going in.' He said he was aware of the paper being shared before the exam in WhatsApp groups in at least four technological universities, where the courses are delivered, nationwide. He said he was aware of the paper being shared before the exam in WhatsApp groups in at least four technological universities, where the courses are delivered, nationwide. Pic: DenPhotos/Shutterstock 'There were lads in the class who did not turn up [for classes during the year], did not know the content, and they were getting merits and distinctions, and now they're going out into the world and plumbing,' he said. 'If you put a valve on an uncontrolled heat source, that's a bomb. Pressure builds, it explodes. People have been killed in Ireland in recent years with that. 'If you pipe gas wrong, that can lead to explosions, death. Carbon monoxide, [that can lead to] death.' The apprentice said the exact same theory exam – the final of three taken along with four 'on the job' tests for plumbing – had been used for the previous group, and that lecturers had already 'been complaining' at how 'easy' the papers are. 'The exact words were, 'A monkey would have passed the last one',' he said. 'There were three thick folders of notes, and they prepared us as best they could, covered the entire syllabus, only for the same exam to come up again, word for word. Then a few days before the exam, we got a leaked copy. 'I worked my a**e off. I spent 11 weeks studying, and then there was no need.' Asked if it was aware of the leak, Solas told 'We note this and the details from your query with great concern and are taking this matter very seriously.' Pic: Shutterstock The spokeswoman confirmed 224 people took the two-part exam on the same days in March as the apprentice who spoke to Asked what the pass rate for the exam was, and if the agency has safety concerns about potentially unskilled plumbers passing the leaked exam, the spokeswoman said: 'We are examining the matters raised in your query. Craft apprentices undergo continuous and multiple practical and written assessments throughout the seven phases of their apprenticeship to ensure that they are competent, working safely in the workplace and that their skills levels are up to date and in line with industry standards.' Assistant general secretary with Connect trade union, Brian Nolan, said he was aware of 'accusations of things that compromise the standard', including exam papers being posted on social media. He told the 'In our opinion, there's a lot of questions about the delivery of apprenticeships and the standard of quality assurance, off the job and on the job. 'We represent the workerlearners in the apprenticeships. We taught apprentices before we ever had Fás or AnCO [An Chomhairle Oiliúna, which oversaw apprenticeships until 1987]. We taught them in the workplace. 'And there's a fear here that as quality assurance is slipping, you could have these exam issues.' Mr Nolan said the course was also in danger of 'being led as academic and not vocational'. Pic: Getty Images He said he 'recently raised' the union's concerns about the exams to the Department of Higher Education. Solas said that in March, 'eight different phase 6 plumbing apprenticeship assessments were delivered, each of which was drawn from a range of different papers'. It added: 'Solas is working with its partners in the Technological Universities to identify if the assessment paper you had provided was one of the assessments delivered and if this was the case, we will agree the urgent actions needed to ensure the integrity of the assessment process.' Solas said new apprenticeship curricula 'are being implemented across all craft apprenticeship programmes' this year. 'Alongside this, new question banks for assessments are being developed and rolled out across the system. This is part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and integrity of our apprenticeship programmes and ensure that they meet the highest standards,' it said. The apprentice who spoke to said plenty of apprentices fail their practical exams 'if they aren't up to scratch'. He said: 'It's not that people are just being slapped through. Lecturers are trying their best to train the next generation. 'And it's also not a plumbing issue alone – it's across all the trades. I know there was an audit into some of the electrical papers being leaked [in his institute].' There are 29,347 apprentices across 77 different Solas apprenticeship programme types.
Irish Examiner
02-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Principals warn 'catch-all' special schools will push pupils back into mainstream classes
Plans to develop 'catch-all' special schools will push students who have mild and general learning disabilities back to mainstream classes 'that have already failed them', principals have warned. The school leaders, who oversee 30 special schools in 19 counties, serving more than 3,000 students, say they face growing pressure from the Department of Education to change their schools' current designation to include children with 'complex needs'. The principals have warned that this broadening of criteria will result in a phasing-out of special school places for children with mild and general learning disabilities. The Department of Education told schools last week of new plans aimed at resolving long-standing issues with the application system for special education, which sees families struggling to find places each year. These issues, as previously highlighted by the Irish Examiner, include a lack of access to appropriate school places. The 30 special schools affected by the new criteria work with children who have mild and general learning disabilities, which typically means a child has an IQ between 50 and 69, as well as with students who are considered 'borderline'. The schools also work with autistic students, often making up more than 50% of the student body, and who have a dual diagnosis of mild and general learning disabilities and don't fit the typical autism class model. The schools offer the full primary curriculum, the Junior Cycle at Levels 2 and 3, QQI Level 3, and the Leaving Certificate Applied. However, the principals now fear their model of education is at risk, according to spokeswoman for the group, Debbie O'Neill, principal of Scoil Eoin in Crumlin. Instead of creating new special school places, the department's plan simply reallocates existing places. This pushes children with mild and general learning disabilities back into mainstream environments that have already failed them. 'This is not inclusive education. It is reactive, rushed, and deeply unfair," she said. The pressure on schools to change designations to cater for a wider cohort of disabilities has become 'very apparent' in recent years, particularly as the crisis in placements for autistic children took hold. 'They are calling them 'catch-all' special schools, which is the most horrendously disrespectful language to any child or parent with a disability, and they are looking for us to become these 'catch-all' special schools," Ms O'Neill said. 'Mild' schools redundant Within four years, the intention is that 'mild' schools would be 'redundant' and students would be back in mainstream classrooms. There would only be a specialised setting for those with the most complex needs, Ms O'Neill said. The recent circular concerned principals as the new language used around designation has been 'kept vague on purpose', she added. 'We recognise the urgent need to find school places for autistic children," she said. No child should be left without a school place, and no family should be left in limbo. We stand with those parents. We want those children to be supported. However, the apparent current strategy of 'repurposing mild and general learning disabilities schools" is not the answer, Ms O'Neill said. A spokesperson for the Department of Education said it is not the intention to exclude children who require a special school place from accessing certain special schools. However, it is not "appropriate" that children and young people have to pass special schools and travel long distances because "they don't meet the narrow criteria for admission to those special schools who cater for children with mild general learning disabilities", the spokesperson said. "A number of these special schools have already moved to broaden the profile of students they support, in response to the changing needs of students. The department and the National Council For Special Education will support other schools to do the same."
Irish Times
20-05-2025
- General
- Irish Times
CAO 2025 calendar: Important dates for college applications
May 6th: The CAO change-of- mind facility opened, enabling applicants to amend, or list for the first time, their course choices. Candidates get a statement of application record online in the correspondence section of their CAO account, before the end of May, listing all details supplied by applicants to date. Applicants must inform the CAO immediately if they do not receive this record, or if there are any errors. June 4th: Leaving Certificate written examinations begin and will continue until late June. On the day of the final Leaving Cert written paper, applicants aged under 23 who sat the Hpat test in February receive their results to enable them to factor these marks into their final consideration of course choices before the July 1st CAO deadline. July 1st (5pm): Change of Mind closes. This is the final date for any amendments to course choices and order of preference on all CAO applications for entry to college. July 4th: The CAO makes about 6,000 offers to mature (over-23) applicants, and to applicants who accepted and then deferred college offers of places in 2024. These offers are made online only at and remain open for about a week. Mature and deferred applicants who may be away from home should ensure any offer in early July is dealt with, as offers lapse if not accepted within the specified time. READ MORE August 7th: Round 0 offers will be issued to graduate entry medicine applicants, additional mature applicants, deferred and Access applicants, and applicants presenting QQI FET/FETAC qualifications for consideration for entry to courses with a quota for applicants. August 22nd: T he State Examinations Commission (SEC) delivers 2025 Leaving Cert results to more than 730 second-level schools, and makes them available on from noon. A full analysis of the results will be provided in the supplement in The Irish Times. Immediately following the release of Leaving Cert results an application to view scripts can be made online only on the SEC Student Portal. August 27th: The CAO releases round one offers online at 2pm. Minimum points required for entry to each course will be available on the CAO website. The Irish Times will provide extensive online and print coverage for the following number of days. Leaving Cert students who are unhappy with a grade they received and wish to view their marked exam scripts may do so online shortly afterwards. There is no charge for viewing your marked exam scripts. Students wishing to appeal the result in one or more Leaving Cert subjects can apply online through the SEC Student Portal between these dates. September 2nd: Closing date for receipt of acceptance of CAO round one offers. Acceptances must be submitted by 3pm. September 8th: The CAO makes round two offers available to applicants online. The minimum points required for entry to each course are released on the CAO website on that date. September 10th: Closing date for receipt of acceptance of CAO round two offers. Shortly afterwards, results of Leaving Cert appeals released by the SEC. Final offers of places by the CAO will be made in the days following. NOTE: The arrival of a physical letter from the CAO in May outlining all details held by them relating to the applicant or an offer notice by post in July or August are now things of the past. All notices are sent directly to the applicant's account within the CAO website * The dates for entries marked with an asterisk have not yet been announced. Leaving Certificate students and all other CAO applicants are advised to check both the State Examinations Commission ( and websites for further updates.
