MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
DECEMBER 1993 - JUNE 1997
“The order in which I took decisions within the Department of Education was parent first, teacher second, Minister third.”
‘I believe that the Party in 1989 has to reach out to a whole new generation in Irish life, through the positive use of the media, public meetings and recruitment campaigns. As Vice-Chair I ensure that the voice of the ordinary member is heard at officer level.‘
Labour Women, 1989.
At 47, Niamh was appointed to Cabinet following her election to Dáil Éireann. As she stated at the time, it showed Dick Spring’s confidence in her.
It was the first time there were two women in the Cabinet.
When she first joined the Labour Party in the 1970s and 1980s, women had to fight to get their voices heard.
Women in the party campaigned to get representation on the party’s Administration Council. They put it to the Conference and Niamh Bhreathnach recalls two of their own women voting against it. The Women’s Council eventually secured two reserved places on the administrative council and Niamh won a seat in Dún Laoghaire Council.
As Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach published the first White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future in 1995. She introduced the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme, and made the Transition Year Programme available to all second-level schools. She abolished third-level undergraduate tuition fees and achieved significant increases in education spending. She also initiated the ‘Breaking the Cycle’ Programme, targeted at rural and urban schools in disadvantaged areas — an initiative regarded by the teaching profession as a significant achievement.
She introduced the Education Bill, 1997— the first major legislative breakthrough since the Stanley Letter of 1831 — and the University Act, 1997, which made universities accountable for the public money they receive.
During Niamh Bhreathnach’s time as Minister for Education, Regional Technical Colleges were upgraded to Institutes of Technology, including the RTC, which she had established in Dún Laoghaire.
Niamh worked to improve opportunities for women apprentices. She developed a National Scheme for Computers in Schools. One of Niamh’s key priorities was to give a stronger voice to parents in schools. She systemically provided for extra teachers and facilities during her term in office. She concentrated on the value of research, and made major efforts to gain funding for this area, primarily from Europe.
1990 - 1992
1992
Election Literature, 1990s
Alan Kinsella Collection
Irishelectionliterature.ie
Her mother Lena Donnellan, originally from Mullagh, County Clare, supported Fine Gael.
Her father, Breandán, was a Clann na Phoblachta supporter and supported Dr Noel Browne. Her mother Lena, originally from Clare, supported Fine Gael. An uncle was a chairman of the Fine Gael Party. Both of her parents were civil servants and did not express political views. As Niamh says, ‘she had no political blood in her at all.’
It was a house full of music - her father played the uileann pipes and was a collector of music, which eventually formed the collection of the traditional music archive.
Niamh’s parents believed in education and her father wanted his daughters to stay in school until they were 21. As Niamh recalled ‘she had no sense she would have to marry and settle down’.
Niamh met Tom Ferris at a party in Dublin. They had two children, Clíodhna and MacDara.
Niamh was a primary teacher at Carysfort College. She later taught at an inner city school at the Oliver Bond complex, an experience which had a major effect on her socialist beliefs, leading to her decision to join the Labour Party.