The Department of Education is pleased to announce BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 applications are now open. (Press Release )

Please see the following link for BLAST Application Guidelines and further details: (Department of Education BLAST Guidelines )

BLAST Arts & Creativity in Education Residency 2024/2025 apply online here: LINK

The closing date for receipt of applications is 10^th May 2024.

Please contact your local Education Support Centre for queries or support, or email National Arts in Education, Tralee Education Support Centre at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Eligibility :

All schools in receipt of capitation grants from the Department of Education or Education and Training Boards (ETBs) can apply for BLAST.

Fee Paying Schools are not eligible to apply for BLAST Residencies. Schools that are not in the free-education scheme cannot apply for BLAST. 

Schools participating in either Creative Clusters or Creative Schools can apply for BLAST.

BLAST is an initiative of the Department of Education, under the Creative Youth Plan 2023-2027. It is led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland - ESCI).

BLAST Application Form (English Version)

BLAST Application Form   (Irish Version) 

The Department of Education is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of Creative Clusters. The deadline for receipt of applications is 10^th May 2024.

Each Creative Cluster will receive grant funding of €3,000 per school over a two-year period to implement their project 2024–2026. 

• 3 schools would receive €9,000
• 5 schools would receive €15,000 

In addition to financial support above each cluster will also receive: 

• A Creative Cluster Facilitator 
• Teacher Substitution to attend Workshops and Meetings
• Room hire, travel & subsistence

Please see the following link for more details: Creative Clusters 2024 (www.gov.ie) Guidelines  

Applications are to be completed online using the following link:

Creative Clusters 2024-2026 Application Form apply here: Appendix 1 

Please note only online applications will be accepted.

Applications are to be completed online using the following LINK, should you need assistance, please contact your local full-time Education Support Centre (list at Appendix 1 of Guidelines document on DE website) or use this link Appendix 1

Any queries, please contact your local Education Support Centre or email National Arts in Education Administration This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Eligible Schools - The following schools are welcome to apply to participate in Creative Clusters:

• Schools that have not yet participated in Creative Clusters.
• Schools that have  not yet participated in Creative Schools and those who will complete Creative Schools Year 2 in the 2023/24 school year.
• Schools that will complete Creative Clusters Year 2 in the 2023/24 school year. However they must apply as part of a cluster who have not yet participated in the initiative. In this instance, it is required that this school applies to lead a cluster of schools that are new to the initiative.
• The local Education Support Centre will have a key role in identifying and supporting a Creative Cluster for their local area.
• 42 Creative Clusters will be selected nationally - 2 per Education Support Centre.

Creative Clusters is an initiative of the Department of Education, led by and in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres (Education Support Centres Ireland - ESCI) and funded through the Schools Excellence Fund.

Creative Clusters Application Form (English Version)

Creative Clusters Application Form (Irish Version)

To view the press release on the DE website please use the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/07907-minister-foley-invites-applications-from-schools-for-funding-of-up-to-15000-to-work-together-in-creative-clusters-initiative/

To view Creative Clusters 2024 on the DE website please use the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/f04b1-creative-clusters-2024/

Following the advice from the National Director of Fire and Emergency Management as Storm Debi approaches Ireland, all Oide face to face events tomorrow Monday 13th November are cancelled. The safety of staff and attendees is paramount.

We were delighted to attend the ESCI 50th Anniversary celebration in Croke Park on the evening of 7th November 2023 alongside Minister Norma Foley.

It was a wonderful evening acknowledging the history of the Education Centre Network and looking to a future in which we continue to support the educational needs of our communities.