By Leona Gilmore
Hildegarde Naughton was appointed as Minister for Education and Youth on 18 November, becoming the first Galway West Fine Gael TD to be nominated as a senior minister.
Minister Naughton took to her Instagram to express her gratitude following the announcement of her new position.
“I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as Minister for Education and Youth. I have been passionate about education since I qualified as a primary school teacher more than 20 years ago.”
Minister Naughton previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, but was promoted to senior minister as part of a cabinet reshuffle that followed Paschal Donohue’s departure as Minister for Finance.
Speaking in the Dáil on November 18, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Minister Naughton’s agenda is “an exciting one, it involves completing important curricular form which will ensure we both update what we teach and ensure high quality.”
“It is a very proud day for any person to be nominated to serve as a member of the government of a democratic republic,” Mr Martin added.
Following the announcement of her new position, Minister Naughton made a trip to her old primary and secondary schools in Oranmore, writing on Instagram that “Home has a way of opening the heart.”
“Visiting my old primary and secondary schools in Oranmore today, as the new Minister for Education & Youth, felt like stepping back into who I was as a young person, and more importantly who I’m here to serve.”
“When the students sang “Thank You for Being a Friend,” the lyrics really hit different. I’ll always be a friend to our students and teachers, in Galway and right across Ireland.”