The former Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, says she will announce her decision next week on whether or not to put herself forward as the next leader of the Labour Party.

Ms O’Sullivan says she expects to have made a decision by next Tuesday.

Earlier, the Labour Party’s Executive Board decided that nominations for the leadership position would open from today until next Friday.

So far, the party’s Deputy Leader Alan Kelly is the only Labour TD to officially announce his intention to contest the leadership.

Other TDs, including Sean Sherlock and Brendan Howlin, have also been touted as possibilities to put themselves forward to lead the party.

Earlier this week, Joan Burton said she would step down as Labour Leader once her successor has been elected.

Labour’s Jan O’Sullivan said:”We’ve only just set up the process today for the election of leader and deputy leader.

“Obviously I haven’t made a decision yet, I’m going to consider it over the weekend, and for me it’ll be Tuesday before I’ve made my decision.”