February 2012
INTO in the Media
Nine O'Clock News - RTE One
29th February 2012
INTO Activist Paddy O Connell bids farewell to School. Paddy was Secretary of the Coachford Branch of the INTO since his election in 1971 and more recently he was Secretary of INTO District 12
INTO protest in Gaoth Dobhair draws hundreds - Donegal People's Press
28th February 2012
...The march, organised by Craobh an Earagail, the Gaoth Dobhair and Cloich Cheann Fhaola branch of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), assembled in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park and marched to the Gaoth Dobhair office of Dinny McGinley, TD, minister of state for the Gaeltacht. The minister of state had told organisers he had a previous commitment on Saturday, but he met a deputation from the group on Friday to receive a letter outlining their concerns...
Further pay cuts for teachers - Irish Times
27th February 2012
Sir, - Your Editorial (February 23rd) states it would be good to hear what teacher unions think of further pay cuts for teachers, By signing up to and implementing the Croke Park Agreement teachers have already made their views clear on that matter. Teachers have already absorbed the non-payment of the last promised pay increase (6 per cent), the pension-related deduction (7 per cent), a pay cut (6 per cent) as well as the universal social charge, PRSI and all the levies. Additional pay cuts (14 per cent) have been imposed on new teachers. These substantial reductions have made a huge difference to teachers, many of whom are finding it difficult to make ends meet. In return, teachers are doing more work and enabling the Exchequer to make substantial payroll savings. Redeployment has delivered savings of EUR60 million, additional working hours have been implemented resulting in fewer school closures and better planning while more pupils are being taught by fewer staff. It is obvious that eaten bread is soon forgotten by anyone asking teachers to take another one for the team. - Yours, Noreen Flynn, President, INTO
Deis may expand to help more schools - Irish Examiner
27th February 2012
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn may give consideration to expanding the Deis scheme to include many other schools with high numbers of disadvantaged pupils. The programme - Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools - was based on levels of disadvantage in 2005....The INTO said there was a strong case for a review of Deis, given the extent of economic change since 2005, but warned it would strongly oppose cutbacks to disadvantaged schools dressed up as a review...
Children may get option of school across the border - Irish Examiner
27th February 2012
Children in border communities may soon be able to opt to go to school in either the North or Republic...The INTO, which represents Primary teachers on both sides of the border, said the initiative was welcome and greater North-South co-operation was long overdue. "Surveying parents' wishes is an important first step and work on allowing for greater mobility of teachers on the island should also be progressed," said INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan.
Coalition pursuing 'scorched earth' policy on rural schools, says principal - Irish Times
27th February 2012
A Primary school principal has accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Coalition of overseeing education cuts that would lead to a "scorched earth" policy in rural Ireland. Principal of Partry Primary school Tom Byrne also accused rural Government TDs of "hiding in the bushes" and of becoming "invertebrates once they crossed the Shannon"...
Protest March - The Journal
25th February 2012
On Saturday 25th February 2012 the Cumann Múinteoirí Éireann / INTO Craobh an Earagail demonstrated against cuts in teacher numbers in disadvantaged and rural schools
Six One News - RTE One
25th February 2012
Protest. Around 3,000 people took to the streets in Mayo and Donegal today to protest against planned cuts affecting small rural schools. Teresa Mannion reports. Interview with Tom Byrne (School Principal)
Anger over Class Cuts - Sunday World
26th February 2012
Thousands of protesters marched to the door of Taoiseach Enda Kenny's constituency office in Castlebar yesterday in a bid to save rural schools. The INTO says up to 250 rural schools will lose at least one teacher over the next three years.
Parents demand pupil/teacher ratio is maintained - Connacht Tribune
24th February 2012
Parents with children in small rural schools in North Connemara have sent a strong message to the Minister for Education - leave the teacher /pupil ratio alone....Joe Killeen, INTO called on the Minister to look for the savings elsewhere. He said that the small school issue was, predominantly, a West of Ireland issue which made it much more difficult to persuade the Government to change the policy which disproportionately affected small rural schools...
Parents to vent anger on doorstep of Taoiseach - Irish Daily Mail
25th February 2012
Thousands of angry teachers, children and parents are taking their fight for small schools to the Taoiseach's doorstep today. Around 3,000 people from the West are expected to take to the streets of Castlebar where a petition will be handed into Enda Kenny's constituency office...Tom Byrne, principal of Partry National School, said that there is no educational justification for the cuts and it is merely an attack on vulnerable and isolated communities. 'People see this as the dismantling of the social fabric of rural societies - what cements the communities together is the rural school,' he said...
Gay teachers welcome FF bill - Cork Independent
24th February 2012
A new Flanna Fall-sponsored Bill designed to improve employment prospects In religious-ethos schools for teachers who are gay, divorced or unmarried parents has been welcomed by the INTO's lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) group. According to Cathal O Riada. Principal of Scoil Churl Aodha in Co Cork, who came out publicly at an INTO conference in 2009, the group is "absolutely delighted" with the bill...On 3 March, Senator Katherine Zappone will join the INTO LGB group to launch an information leaflet to be distributed to every Primary school teacher in the country...
Positive news for count's Deis schools - South Tipp Today
23rd February 2012
Education minister Ruairi Quinn's decision not to proceed with education cuts that would have hit the most disadvantaged children, has been well received by the INTO in South Tipperary...
Abu Dhabi windfall lures our teachers - Irish Daily Mail
23rd February 2012
Hundreds of teachers are being lured abroad by tax-free salaries, paid for accommodation and flights, threatening to plunge our struggling schools into an even deeper crisis...A spokesman from the INTO underlined that the lack of jobs coupled with the reduced pay being offered to graduates was forcing many to look to opportunities elsewhere...
Tommy Marren - Midwest Radio
23rd February 2012
Peter Mullan (Media Officer, INTO) and Mandy Carabine (parent) and Eilis Conroy (Principal, Geesala National School) discuss the progress made to date on reverseing budget cuts that endanger the future of rural schools and upcoming protests on the issue...
Protest March - Donegal Democrat
23rd February 2012
Classrooms will have bigger numbers and children will have less support as a result...The march will proceed to the Constituency Office of Dinny Mc Ginley, where a letter, protesting against the cuts, will be delivered by hand...For information, contact Sean O Donaill, Chairperson, 087 6204079, or Bernadette Ni Dhuibhir, 087 182 5358. earaeailCinto.ie
Local INTO branch seeks public support for protest on Saturday - Donegal Democrat
23rd February 2012
The Gaoth Dobhair branch of the INTO are seeking public support for their protest march against cuts in education funding in Budget 2012, to be held in Gaoth Dobhair this weekend...
Local Can't Pay, Won't Pay group to support INTO march - Donegal Democrat
23rd February 2012
...Saturday's local INTO march against education cuts to support opposition to austerity policies. The INTO march is scheduled to assemble at 12 noon on Saturday, Feb. 25th, at the NUI Galway Acadamh in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park. The local protest, organised by the Gaoth Dobhair and Cloich Cheann Fhaola branch of the INTO, was scheduled to coincide with similar protests being held around the country...
State retains teaching jobs but slashes school grants - Irish Independent
22nd February 2012
The Government is rowing back on plans to cut teachers in disadvantaged and small rural schools - but at a price....The INTO also welcomed the move. However there was criticism of the decision to pay for it by cutting the capitation grant...
Mixed reaction to Deis cuts U-turn - Irish Times
22nd February 2012
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn's climbdown on spending cuts for disadvantaged schools has received a mixed welcome....INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan welcomed the move and said most of their concerns have been met. “The decision to cut these in the budget was misguided and needed to be reworked. We acknowledge that the Minister has now reversed the severe cuts,” she said.
School funds cut to pay for U-turn by Quinn - Irish Examiner
22nd February 2012
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has been accused of robbing Peter to pay Paul after cutting budgets for all primary schools in order to fund a U-turn on teacher cuts in the most disadvantaged schools....Only a few are likely to benefit from the widened appeal system but the INTO welcomed the move. It said it would have been nonsense for schools to lose a teacher this year, only to regain it next year...
Six One News - RTE One
22nd February 2012
Student Teachers. Almost 1,000 student teachers protested outside the Dail today to at recent cuts to the pay and conditions of new entrants to the profession. Anne Marie Smyth reports. Interview with Padraig McCaughey, Ruairi Finan (St Patrick's Teaching College), Emer Kelly (Froebel College) and Cahill Doherty (Vice President, Froebel College Student Union)...
Small schools campaign gathers pace - Donegal Post
22nd February 2012
The campaign to save rural schools in Donegal, under threat due to recent budget cutbacks, moves up a gear this week with two planned days of protest...Members of DEIS schools will gather outside the Dail at 3.30pm tomorrow (Thursday). A second day of protest is scheduled for this Saturday and is being organised by the Save Our Small Schools campaign and various branches of the INTO...
Shaun Doherty - Highland Radio
22nd February 2012
Albert Doherty (School Principal, INTO member) discusses the future for rural and DEIS schools after the government’s u-turn on education cuts to DEIS schools...
Nine O'Clock News - RTE One
21st February 2012
Education Cuts
The government has announced significant changes to proposed cuts to disadvantaged primary schools. Emma O Kelly reports. Interview with Ruairi Quinn TD (Minister for Education), Breda Murray (School principal), Senator Averil Power (Fianna Fail) and Sheila Nunan (INTO)...
Morning Focus - Clare FM
21st February 2012
Over 600 people gathered in Ennis last night to voice their opposition to cuts to primary education across the country. Niamh McNamara reported on last night's meeting where she spoke to teachers, parents and community activists. [9:11am] Pat Breen (Fine Geal), Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) and Sean McMahon (INTO) debate the issue of education cuts. [9:20am] Further coverage on the meeting.
Over 400 attend school cuts meeting - Offaly Independent
18th February 2012
...A crowd of over 400 including teachers, students, parents and public representatives gathered in the Tullamore Court Hotel on February 13. The meeting was addressed by main speaker Brian O'Reilly from the INTO as well as Fianna Fail TD Barry Cowen, Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan and principals from two-teacher, three-teacher and fourteacher schools...
A simple formula for education - Irish Times
18th February 2012
UTV News
17th February 2012
Churches unite to save rural schools. Protestant and Catholic churches in Co Donegal are uniting to try and save rural schools
Clare INTO launches campaign against cuts - Clare Champion
17th February 2012
A Campaign opposing the "misguided" cuts to local Primary schools, organised by Clare INTO, will be launched at a public meeting in the West County Hotel next Monday night at 8pm. Sean McMahon, INTO national representative, called on Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to rethink the cuts, particularly to disadvantaged (DEIS) and small Primary schools.
Campaign to reverse cuts to rural schools is gathering pace - Athlone Topic
16th February 2012
The INTO has strongly criticised the government's staffing cuts in small schools. Sheila Nunan, General Secretary of the INTO said the loss of a teacher in up to a hundred small schools next September would see huge increases in class sizes. She said it was not a case of one child extra per class but five or six additional children per class in classrooms where teachers are already teaching two, three or four class groups in the same room along with special needs children. "The Department needs to be cautious, given the high birth rate at the moment, and do nothing to damage the value of small schools of the country." said Ms Nunan, adding that 'schools of minority denominations and Irish medium schools should be treated with par ticular sensitivity in the matter of proposed amalgamations'.
Watch out Ruairi Cuts to small schools spell big trouble - Irish Independent
15th February 2012
For the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn it is political dynamite. The Government's Value-for-money Review of Small Primary schools is currently being drawn up.... A spokesman for the INTO said many small schools now have increased pupil numbers but will still lose a teacher next September. "This will leave many schools with impossibly large classes," said the INTO spokesman...
25 teachers to leave classroom - Argus
15th February 2012
Twenty-Five Primary school teachers, including six principals, have indicated that they intend to retire before the end of February - the deadline for public servants to retire with pensions and lump sums to be based on the pre-cuts 2009 salary. The number and timing of the retirements is 'unprecedented', according to Dundalk INTO branch secretary Brid Kindlon, who says that the departure of these teachers, many with over 35 years service, 'will be a huge loss to the local area as they had a wealth of experience which will be lost to the teaching profession.'
One News - Clare FM
15th February 2012
A fifth of national schools in Clare are set to lose teachers come September under the government’s budgetary measures. Gavin Grace reports. Interview with Sean McMahon (INTO) –Mentions Minister Ruairi Quinn’s reaction.
Morning Focus - Clare FM
15th February 2012
Education Cuts. Sean McMahon (INTO) discusses efforts in Clare to have some of the education cuts reversed. [9:11am] Brid Finnegan (School Principal) joins the discussion and outlines how her school feels under threat. Martina McCarthy (Parents Representative) discusses the cuts at her local school.
Capacity crowd attends INTO school rally - Nenagh Guardian
11th February 2012
A capacity crowd attended last Monday night's INTO organised rally at The Ragg over education cuts outlined the Government's 2012 Budget. The North Tipperary branch of the INTO organised the rally in protest against budgetary measures, which it says will have a direct adverse impact on rural schools....
More than 750 oppose school staff cuts - Clare Champion
10th February 2012
Between 750 and 800 people in Killaloe have signed a petition supporting a new campaign opposing plans to almost halve the staffing numbers in the local boys' national school.....INTO national representative, Sean McMahon admitted it is a "sorry state of affairs" that parents, community and teachers are forced to come out to this meeting to defend the education service provided in the school....
Large turn-out for schools protest meeting - Longford Leader
10th February 2012
A sizeable crowd of interested observers filed through the doors of the Longford Arms Hotel last Tuesday evening as tension over the long term future of rural primary schools moved up a gear....In the event of any forthcoming government decisions taking place Cllr Loughrey revealed a sub committee, comprising Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) members, parents and locally-based politicians, is now in place....
School Cutbacks - Tipperary Star
9th February 2012
Claire Buckley captured the mood at Younge's the Ragg on Monday evening when the Principal of Glengoole National School declared that "we need to stand up and shout louder and tell them to leave our small schools alone. These schools are the heartbeat of our community"....Representing the INTO Sean McMahon, the principal of a three-teacher school in west Clare, said that the people of North Tipperary needed to "deliver a message to cabinet, to government and particularly to the Minister for Education that the small rural schools of Ireland will not be sacrificed"....
Teachers take cuts protest to the Dail - The Kerryman
8th February 2012
A group of parents and teachers from the West Kerry area took their concerns to Dail Eireann last Wednesday where they joined a protest against proposed cuts to small Primary schools...According to INTO representatives in the West Kerry area, fears are rife that many Primary schools with less than 100 pupils may lose a teacher or may be forced to amalgamate...
Education cuts protest intensifies - Offaly Express
8th February 2012
A campaign to challenge proposed increases in class sizes and cuts to teacher numbers, which could affect over half of the 65 primary schools in Offaly, is poised to gather momentum....Noreen Flynn, INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) President claimed the loss of a teacher in up to a hundred small schools next September will see huge increases in class sizes...
Protest over planned cuts to rural schools taken to the Dail - Roscommon Herald
7th February 2012
Parents and teachers from all parts of Roscommon were part of the 1,000strong crowd who travelled to protest outside Dail Eireann as a debate on proposed changes to pupil teacher ratios in small schools took place inside the gates....Joe Killeen INTO National Executive member for Roscommon and Galway reiterated the total opposition to the Government plan...
One News - Shannonside
6th February 2012
A public meeting to discuss a range of concerns across the primary school sector takes place in Longford tonight. –Mentions that Brian O’Reilly (INTO) will be attending.
1,000 years teaching experience lost - Limerick Post
4th February 2012
With the deadline looming for teachers to take early retirement under the Croke Park deal, teachers' unions in Limerick are expecting that almost one in 10 teachers will be lost in a 14 month period....Limerick Irish National Teachers Organisation rep, Joe Lyons, told the Limerick Post that the drain on teaching skills will cause major problems. "The embargo on permanent replacements means that teachers will only be hired on short term contracts...
Public meeting called over education cuts - Nenagh Guardian
4th February 2012
The Tipperary branch of the INTO has called a public meeting to air concerns over education cuts outlined in Budget 2012. Local communities are being urged to turn out in force at the meeting, which will take place at The Ragg next Monday February 6 at 7pm, and will focus in particular on the impact of the Budget on rural schools....
Planned approach to overcrowding - Clare Champion
3rd February 2012
A pilot project examining a planned approach towards addressing overcrowding in urban primary schools and rural schools threatened with cutbacks could be implemented in Clare, according to a teaching union leader. INTO general secretary, Sheila Nunan supports the introduction of a local or regional study examining new ways to address the changes in rural communities concerning primary schools....
Decoupling proposal 'counterproductive' - Clare Champion
3rd February 2012
A new proposed Government cutback in primary education resources could actually cost the Exchequer more taxpayers' money once it is introduced in Clare next September, a local teaching union leader has claimed....He urged Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to rethink the proposal and deliver support to the children and not in terms of a "bureaucratic dream that this in some way is more better or modern, which is not the case."...
Too many Donegal schools will close in Govt cuts - Tirconaill Tribune
2nd February 2012
The INTO described the new class size of 22 pupils in disadvantaged schools as simply inadequate and still above the EU average. Teachers are frontline when it comes to services to disadvantaged children...Peter Mullan, spokesperson for the INTO has already stated that the government have made a mistake and do not realise the cumulative affect of the changes they have made. 'I think the department have made a mistake on this - they have done a number of things simultaneously and I don't think they have predicted the outcome of making two or three changes together...
School principals exempt from February ban on new allowances - Industrial Relations News
2nd February 2012
The ban on new allowances for February was condemned this week by the INTO, which described it as discriminatory against new teachers in particular, who have already taken severe pay cuts over and above more experienced teachers. The primary teachers' union said: "The issue was not raised in advance with the union. Primary teachers have delivered fully on the Croke Park Agreement over the past year. Allowances are paid for work done."...
Children in Monaghan encouraged to get writing - Northern Standard
2nd February 2012
EBS and INTO launch 2012 National Handwriting Competition. The EBS in conjunction with INTO today launched the 2012 EBS/INTO National Handwriting Competition to the students of Monaghan and around the country, as part of their annual campaign to highlight the importance of having good handwriting...
Michael Reade Show - LMFM
2nd February 2012
Noreen Flynn (INTO) discusses concern for rural schools and education cuts that will effect the pupil/teacher ratio.
Separate school protests held in Dublin - RTE News
2nd February 2012
Two separate primary school protests have taken place in Dublin. Pupils from Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra, Dublin, demonstrated outside the Department of Education over the school's accommodation....Organisers say around 60 people took part in the protest. Earlier, 50 pupils from the Old Borough National School in Swords, Co Dublin, along with teachers and parents, protested outside the Dáil over changes to teacher support services...
Hundreds gather at Dáil for protest against small school cuts - The Journal
2nd February 2012
Hundreds of parents, teachers and their supporters have gathered outside Leinster House tonight to protest against planned staff cuts in smaller schools. One demonstrator estimated that as many as 1,500 people had travelled for the demonstration, which was addressed by the president of the INTO Noreen Flynn...
New teaching entrants to earn 30% less than their colleagues - Irish Times
2nd February 2012
....The INTO said yesterday that the qualification allowances to teachers were an integral part of salary and pensions. The other payments were for extra work undertaken in schools necessary for their proper running....
Education gains 'can be kept with small pay cuts' - Irish Independent
2nd February 2012
A Post-Primary principals' leader says that it would be better to cut teachers' pay than to reduce staffing in schools in order to save money....An Irish National Teachers' Organisation spokesman said teachers had already absorbed pay cuts and a pension levy and were "doing more for less"....
1,000 lay siege to Dáil on school cuts - Irish Daily Mirror
2nd February 2012
Up to 1,000 teachers and parents laid siege to Leinster House last night to protest against planned staff cuts in small schools. Teachers' leader Noreen Flynn said the cuts mean losing a teacher in up to 100 small schools in September. Earlier, pupils protested at the Dáil over changes to teacher support...
Teachers lose up to 9K in perks... But only new recruits - Irish Daily Mail
2nd February 2012
...The INTO condemned the pay freeze and called ont the department to reverse it. The union said that payments for supervision, substitution and the secretary to boards of management allowances paid to principals will be frozen...INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan said that primary teachers had delivered fully on the Croke Park Agreement over the past year and now they were being punished...
Day the rural schools fought back - Irish Daily Mail
2nd February 2012
Hundreds of children, teachers and parents took to the streets outside the Dáil last night to protest at cuts to small schools....Noreen Flynn, President of the INTO who spoke at the protest last night, called on Mr. Quinn to rethink the swingeing cutbacks...
Newstalk Radio News (including interview with Noel Ward)
1st February 2012
Teachers’ unions are criticising a move by the government to stop allowances for new staff...INTO has condemned the government decision not to pay the allowances pending a month-long review...
Students put pen to paper for national handwriting Contest - Metro Eireann
1st February 2012
The 20th Annual EBS/INTO National Handwriting Competition has been launched for national school students around the country...Speaking at the launch, Noreen Flynn, President of the INTO said: "Our aim is to celebrate the skill of handwriting among all children from infants to sixth class."...
News - 98 FM
1st February 2012
Hundreds of parents and teachers have gathered to voice their opposition to planned staff cuts in smaller schools. President of the INTO Noreen Flynn addressed the crowd. She told protesters that the cuts would result in large increases in class sizes because of the way teachers are allocated to smaller schools.
News on Two - RTE Two
1st February 2012
Hundreds of primary school pupils along with their parents and teachers took part in a protest outside Leinster House tonight
Nine News - 4FM
1st February 2012
The INTO are this morning criticising a move by the government to stop allowances for new staff.
Nine News - Today FM
1st February 2012
Teachers unions are criticising a move by the government to stop allowances for new teachers.
New public servants not eligible for extra payments - Irish Examiner
1st February 2012
Thousands of new entrants to the public service, most of them replacing those availing of early retirement pension arrangements, will not be eligible for extra allowances from today. ....The INTO said notice of the changes was discriminatory against new teachers who have already taken severe pay cuts over and above more experienced colleagues.
Every primary school west of Dingle 'at risk of closure' - The Kerryman
1st February 2012
All seven primary schools west of Dingle could be closed permanently if Budget proposals are implemented, West Kerry INTO representatives claim....According to the INTO it amounts to a concerted attack on rural schools and rural lilfe...
Schools to descent on Dáil in protest at teachers cuts - Irish Daily Mail
1st February 2012
Hundreds of angry parents and teachers will this afternoon make their way to the Dail after classes in their battle against cuts to small schools that they claim will devastate rural communities. ...The INTO has called on the minister to rethink his budget cuts, which will see a jump in thresholds for the allocation of teachers in two, three and four teacher schools...