January 2010
INTO in the News
INM withdraws token scheme - The Sunday Times
31st January 2010
Independent News & Media has suspended a commercial promotion for primary schools after objections from the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO)...
Nine out of 10 primary schools are under Catholic patronage - Irish Times - Supplement
30th January 2010
How much power does the Catholic Church wield in primary education?, asks Seán Flynn, Education Editor What is the extent of church involvement in primary schools?...
Tipp Today - Tipp FM - Seamus Martin
29th January 2010
Peter Mullen (Media Officer, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation) discusses plans to cut as many as 1,000 special needs assistant positions in the Irish educational system.
Tommy Marren - Midwest Radio
29th January 2010
Sheila Nunan incoming General Secretary of the INTO discusses the latest news of cuts in special needs assistants in Irish schools.
Up to 1,000 special needs posts may be cut - Irish Times
29th January 2010
UP TO 1,000 posts of special needs assistants (SNAs) could be abolished in the coming weeks as the Department of Education imposes new cutbacks...
Put pencil to paper for National Handwriting Competition - Irish Independent - Supplement
28th January 2010
EBS Building Society and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) have launched the 2010 National Handwriting Competition and their campaign to enthuse students about handwriting. The competition, now in its 18th year, is open to all national schools and its focus is to keep the art of handwriting alive. National commentary has sometimes focused on why we continue to teach handwriting in schools since we are in the 'digital age' and using a computer is far easier, but the EBS/INTO competition hopes to reverse this thinking and encourage pupils and teachers alike to take handwriting seriously. At the launch yesterday were Eabha Last (6) from Gorey, Co Wexford, and Brandon Noble (6) from Ratoath, Co Meath.
Anger as Special Needs Staff Axed - Mirror
27th January 2010
The Government sparked outrage last night after it was revealed hundreds of special needs assistants will be given the boot on Friday...
Deise AM - WLR
26th January 2010
Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe calls for teachers’ unions to come to bargaining table with Government over public sector protests. Peter Mullan (Irish National Teachers’ Organisation)
Work-to-rule step up threatened over cuts - Metro-Herald
26th January 2010
Unions last night threatened to intensify a work-to-rule over the Government's EUR l billion spending cuts despite pleas for talks to limit the damaging row...
Teachers warned work-to-rule may sour relations in schools - Irish Independent
26th January 2010
Parents are urging teachers to call off industrial action that will cause pupils to lose out on tuition time...
Dublin's Talking - Dublin's Country
25th January 2010
Education sector union action over budget cuts – Interview: Peter Mullan (INTO)
Loose Talk - LMFM
25th January 2010
300,000 trade union members stage work-to-rule protests against public sector pay cuts. Paul Bell (Acting Divisional Secretary, SIPTU) discusses the protest in the health care sector. Sheila Nunan (incoming General Secretary, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation) comments.
The Morning Show - East Coast FM
25th January 2010
Sheila Nunan (Incoming General Secretary, INTO) discusses the strike action being taken by teachers in relation to the budget cuts.
News @ 9:45 - Spin 103.8
25th January 2010
Public services will be hit this week as some public sector workers start a work to rule action, Sheila Nunan from the INTO (interview).
Nine News - Dublin's 98
25th January 2010
The Labour Relations Commission is being asked to step in and prevent public sector strike action. Interview with Sheila Nunan, INTO
INTO calls for debate on public sector funding - Ireland on Line
24th January 2010 - 11:51:03
There are calls today for a national debate on public services and how they are funded. The incoming General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation Shelia Nunan has said spending on the public services here is lower than in many other OECD countries...
The Wide Angle - Newstalk
24th January 2010
Newspaper review panel discuss plans for industrial action by public sector workers – Sheila Nunan (INTO), Paul Somerville (Delta Index) and Ken Murphy (Irish Law Society)
Saturday View - RTE Radio 1
23rd January 2010
Studio panel discuss planned industrial action by public sector workers and also speak about the air traffic controllers’ dispute – Moore McDowell (Economist), Sheila Nunan (INTO), Martin Wall (Irish Times), Fergus O’Dowd TD (Fine Gael) and Dara Calleary TD (Fianna Fail) [13:08] 28 min
INTO issues work to rule directive - Irish Times
21st January 2010
Primary teachers may withdraw from all extracurricular activities as the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) steps up its campaign against Government pay cuts. In a directive to its 25,000 members, the union is recommending that each school “review its practice of voluntary activities after school time and consider if such activities might take place during school time”. The move will be of concern to many organisations, including the GAA which relies on primary teachers to teach younger children the basics of football and hurling. Drama and other cultural activities could also be targeted...
Irish schools need not teach English to junior infants - Irish Times
21st January 2010
Irish language schools will no longer have to teach English to junior infants following the withdrawal yesterday of a controversial directive by the Department of Education...
InBrief - News Letter
21st January 2010
Education event to discuss issues. Leaders in the Province's education system will today trash out some of the most controversial issues facing schools...
INTO wants teacher panel retained - RTE News on Line
20 January 2010 20:33
Teachers and opposition politicians have called on Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe to reverse plans to abolish a special teacher substitution system...
Six One News - RTE One
20th January 2010
The INTO and opposition politicians have called on the Minister for Education to reverse its decision to scrap the special teacher substitution system. Interview with Carmel Kilcoyne (Teacher), Brian Hayes TD (Fine Gael) and Marie Maloney (School principal).
Stability thrown out with the talks - Irish Examiner
22nd January 2010
Unions are criticised for actions, but Government are also guilty, writes Stephen Rogers
In a parallel universe in which last December's budget had been agreed between the social partners, the public service would today be in the midst of a transformation for the better...
Teachers target pupils and parents - Irish Dail Mail
21st January 2010
Primary teachers have announced they will be starting a work to rule, banning extra-curricular activity, in protest at pay cuts in the December Budget...
Substitute teachers row - Irish Examiner
20th January 2010
The axing of a scheme to cover teacher absences will add to principals' workloads and make it harder for schools to source substitute teachers, according to a union. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said the move in Budget 2010 to end the pilot teacher supply panel scheme, costing around 60 teaching jobs, was educationally short-sighted and economically unsound.
Midlands Today - Midlands Radio 103
20th January 2010
Is texting bad for your spelling? Helen O’Gorman (Midlands Representative, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation) discusses the possible effects of text messaging on literacy.
Teachers need more training to deal with abuse allegations - Sunday Business Post
17th January 2010
Teacher training on how to deal with child abuse allegations is insufficient and needs to be "ramped up", according to the new head ofthe Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO)...
Indo defends controversial sponsorship - Sunday Business Post
17th January 2010
Independent Newspapers is seeking a meeting with the main primary teachers' union to discuss teachers' objections to a schools programme it has launched with the support of Bank of Ireland. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), whose code stipulates that school-based promotions must be purely philanthropic, described the scheme - and any similar ones - as "exploitative"...
Students will return to school this week following extended Christmas break - Leitrim Observer
15th January 2010
Following a much extended Christmas break, school children across the county are expected to be back at their classroom desks this week...
Water forces school closures - Irish Examiner
14th January 2010
A number of schools have been forced to close again today because of water shortages caused by burst pipes or cuts in supply from local councils. It is understood that some schools in Dublin which had been open since Tuesday lost water yesterday and had to tell parents there will be no classes today as a result. Problems caused by frozen pipes have hit large numbers of schools in the west and north-west, forcing them to lose further days, according to the Irish National Teachers' Organisation.
Quotes of the week - Donegal Democrat
14th January 2010
"I think it could cause a lot of confusion." -Gerard McGeehan, a member of the central executive committee of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, on Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe's decision to allow Ireland's schools to reopen, just two days after he had ordered them to close.
Majority of Cork schools to re-open tomorrow - Evening Echo
13th January 2010
Some pupils in Cork were back behind their desks today — but the majorjty won't return to school until tomorrow. The treacherous road conditions and icy footpaths are still major concern and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation have advised parents to take care when bringing children to school and to not worry about being a bit late and to drive carefully...
Pupils return but shortages could close schools again - Irish Independent
13th January 2010
Melting snow and ice gave way to fresh problems for pupils returning to classrooms yesterday as water shortages plagued schools...
Most schools set to reopen - Leinster Express
13th January 2010
After the unprecedented cold weather forced schools across Laois to remain closed for the past week, most were due to reopen their doors after the Christmas holidays this week...
Bank of Ireland's school promotion criticised - RTE News
12th January 2010
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation has said teachers should not support advertising schemes by commercial companies that target children or their families through schools...
Drivetime - RTE Radio 1
12th January 2010
Weather conditions causing havoc for some schools - Interview: Michaeal O’Cinneide (Principal, Tralee) on leaks in his school. [5:20pm] 4min
Hundreds of schools remain closed – RTE News
12th January 2010
Many primary and second-level schools have reopened following recent severe weather, however hundreds of others remain closed...
Snow way - Star
12th January 2009
A battle is looming between teachers and the Department of Education over making up school days lost due to school closures because of the snow. Last Friday, Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe ordered all schools to close until Thursday due to the big freeze. But yesterday he said schools could decide themselves when to re-open from today, because of a major thaw...
Schools Shambles - Donegal Democrat
12th January 2010
To send or not to send - that is the dilemma facing parents across Donegal this morning after the extended Christmas break brought about by the inclement weather...
TV3 News
11th January 2010
Minister for Education Batt O’Keefe has said schools should reopen tomorrow if they are in a position to do so. Interview with Batt O’Keefe (Minister for Education), Aine Lynch (National Parents Council) and John Boyle (School principal)...
Schools - Donegal on Sunday
10th January 2010
Everyone welcomes the common sense decision of Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe to close primary and second-level schools on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said the decision was sensible in the circumstances...
Decision to close schools welcomed - RTE News
9th January 2010
There has been a qualified welcome for the decision of Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe to close primary and second-level schools on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said the decision was sensible in the circumstances.
All schools to close until next Thursday - Irish Times
9th January 2010
All 4,000 primary and post primary schools are to close until next Thursday, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has said. The Minister announced his decision following a meeting of the Government's Emergency Response Committee yesterday...
Easter holidays may be cut as schools close until Thursday - Irish Examiner
9th January 2010
More than 100,000 Leaving and Junior Certificate students could have their Easter holidays shortened to make up for the five days lost by hundreds of second level schools by next Thursday. The country's 4,000 primary and second levels were ordered last night to close on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next, on health and safety grounds...
Schools must close until next Thursday - Star
9th January 2010
Children were celebrating yesterday as Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe ordered all primary and secondary schools to close for the first three days of next week in the face of freezing weather. The minister made the decision yesterday due to concern for the safety of children travelling to and from school in treacherous conditions...
Schools to shut for three days - Belfast Telegraph
8th January 2010
The country's 4,000 schools will shut down for three days next week as the winter freeze deepens, it has been confirmed.Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe took the decision to order pupils to stay at home on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday amid fears for safety. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said it was a sensible move.Sheila Nunan, incoming INTO general secretary, said: "Pavements outside most schools are in a lethal condition...
Tommy Marren - Midwest Radio
8th January 2010
Sheila Nunan of the INTO discusses school closures dues to weather conditions.
Deise AM - WLR
8th January 2010
Joe Cashman (Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, Waterford) discusses complaints about the lack of de-icing for school transport routes and pavements outside schools, as well as a lack of information from the Department of Education on school closings.
Schools in battle to reopen after full force of freeze as dozens already admit defeat- Connacht Tribune
8th January 2010
One County Galway primary school is counting the cost of severe damage which was caused when pipes burst in the attic - the school will not be reopening until Monday next.
'Urgent action' needed to open schools next week - Irish Examiner
8th January 2009
Parents will still be unsure on Sunday if schools can open next week unless the Government takes urgent action to make roads safe, a teachers' leader has warned...
Fears for exam students as over 3,000 schools shut their doors - Irish Independent
8th January 2010
More than 3,000 schools will remain shut today as parents face the prospect of widespread closures continuing into next week...
Teacher union criticises response to weather - Irish Times
8th January 2010
With the vast majority of schools closed yesterday, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has strongly criticised the Government’s “inept response to the problems caused by severe weather conditions”...
O'Keeffe calls for mandatory schools Stay Safe programme - Irish Times
7th January 2010
The Minister for Education has signalled that the Stay Safe child protection programme should be mandatory in all schools...
Safety concern extends break for thousands of pupils - Irish Times
7th January 2010
Hundreds of schools will not reopen after the Christmas holidays today because of the hazardous weather conditions. Some schools texted parents to say they would not be reopening while others used radio stations to pass on the message...
Safety first for pupils and parents - INTO - Ocean FM
7th January 2010
The Irish National Teachers Organisation say that dangerous conditions on school grounds and treacherous road conditions for parents means that hundreds of schools will be closed until at least Monday. Pat Stenson from the Sligo branch of the INTO said that pupil safety is paramount as is the safety of parents bringing children to and from school. Ocean FM has been notified of over one hundred schools in the region which are closed due to the extreme weather conditions, a full list of which can be found on our website, www.oceanfm.ie.
Mr.Stenson said that schools will assess the weather over the weekend before making a decision on whether to re-open on Monday or not.
Riverstown man relishing the task of leading the country's teachers - Sligo Champion
6th January 2010
After working for more than 40 years as a national school teacher, Jim Higgins will certainly be going out on a high next Easter when he takes over as president of the 36,000 member Irish National Teachers' Organisation. But the principal of Scoil Mathona Naofa, in Ardkeeran, Riverstown, is not a man to take anything for granted just yet . . . even though he is the only candidate for the position...
Teacher pay cuts will come as an unfair blow to Kerry - The Kerryman
6th January 2010
Kerry people will be affected more than most by the five per cent pay cut that is to be imposed on substitute and temporary teachers as well as permanent public sector staff. According to Kerry and Limerick INTO Central Executive Committee member Seamus Long, Kerry has an over supply of teachers meaning that a high proportion who stay within the county end up on temporary or substitute hours...
Coleman at Large - Newstalk - Marc Coleman
6th January 2010
Updates and discussion on the disruption caused by snow and ice - David Rogers (Met Eireann), Peter Mullin (INTO), John White (ASTI), Cllr Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Fine Gael), Andrew McLindon (Bus Eireann), Senator Neil O'Brolchain (Green Party) and Patricia Callan (Small Firms Association)
Loose Talk - LMFM - Michael Reade
6th January 2010
INTO member Peter D’Arcy (Principal, St Mary’s Boy’s School, Drogheda) discusses calls for schools to remain closed on Thursday and Friday due to inclement weather and road conditions.
Schools to remain closed as arctic conditions wreak havoc - Irish Independent
6th January 2010
Hundreds of schools are expected to remain closed until next week as the cold weather continues to make road travel dangerous.
But many others are planning to leave it until the last minute to decide on whether to open their doors to pupils who are due to return from their Christmas holidays tomorrow...
Tech drive brings O’Keeffe back to his salesman days - Irish Independent
6th January 2010
He once had to knock on doors to get people interested in encyclopedias, but now Batt O’Keeffe is putting them into the country’s 4,000 schools. But now as Education Minister, he does not need to use his selling skills anymore as his department is paying almost €500,000 to provide every primary and second-level school with online versions of World Book and Encyclopedia Brittanica.
The €150 million plan to give a laptop and projector to every classroom within three years was announced by Mr O’Keeffe last October. However, the investment was likened by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) to supplying new cars with no roads to drive them on, because of the inadequately slow broadband service in hundreds of schools...
Morning Focus - Clare FM -John Cooke
6th January 2010
Sean McMahon (INTO) discusses the dilemma facing schools on whether to open tomorrow amid severe weather conditions.
Kerry Today - Radio Kerry -John Greene
6th January 2010
Seamus Long (INTO) and Lily Cronin (ASTI) discuss how the weather conditions will affect school opening hours.
Sue Nunn -KCLR
6th January 2010
Joe McKeown (Irish National Teachers' Organisation) discusses calls for schools to remain closed on Thursday and Friday due to inclement weather and road conditions. Kilkenny County Councillor and area school administrator Mary Hilda Kavanagh comments.
One News - Clare FM - Niamh McNamara
6th January 2010
Up to 20 schools across Clare have decided to remain shut until next week due to the hazardous road conditions. Interview with Sean McMahon, INTO.
News on Two - RTE Two - Una O' Hagan
4th January 2010
The INTO has said the school building programme is overly bureaucratic and leaves schools on waiting lists for as long as possible.
Nine O' Clock News - RTE One - Eilleen Dunne
4th January 2010
The INTO has said the school building programme is overly bureaucratic and leaves schools on waiting lists for as long as possible. Interview with Sheila Nunan (INTO). Reporter: Joe MagRaollaigh.
Teachers' pay cut by up to 19%, says INTO - Irish Times
4th January 2010
Teachers' take-home pay has been cut by up to 19 per cent in the past year, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) claimed yesterday. The union, which will soon announce plans to combat the cuts, said the full extent of pay cuts would be felt by more than 50,000 teachers when schools reopen this week. It claimed the cuts in take-home pay ranged from 15.2 per cent for a teacher just out of training to nearly 19 per cent for a principal at the top of the scale...
Pupils face prospect of teacher protests - Irish Independent
4th January 2010
Pupils are returning to the threat of disruption in schools in coming months as teachers protest over pay and pensions.
According to the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), average take-home pay for teachers has decreased by more than 17pc in the past 12 months. The extent of the loss of take-home pay ranges from 15.2pc for a teacher starting out to nearly 19pc for a principal teacher at the top of the scale. The union said, on average, public servants have had to endure reductions in take-home pay that are three times higher than in the private sector...
Teacher pay cuts ‘wipe outbenchmarking benefits’ - Irish Examiner
4th January 2010
The latest public service pay cuts taking effect this week will see the benefits of benchmarking for teachers having been wiped out over the past year. Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) incoming general secretary Sheila Nunan said the 17% drop in average take-home pay for its 35,000 members in the last year was far higher than cuts for private sector workers...
Retired teachers get subbing work despite crisis - Irish Examiner
2nd January 2010
Schools are still giving substitution work to hundreds of retired teachers despite an unemployment crisis for thousands of teachers who can’t get work. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said it had explicitly asked schools in the September edition of its monthly magazine to prioritise teachers without regular employment for substitute work...
Pupils must begin again after 15-year wait for new school - Irish Independent
2nd January 2010
A school must restart the planning process after waiting 15 years for a permanent home - because of a discrepancy measuring just 15 yards.
Scoil An Ghoirt Alainn in Mayfield, Cork opened in a former nursing home in 1993 and has been searching for a permanent home since.
But the 291-pupil gaelscoil is now the focus of a bitter planning dispute as residents oppose a development on their local playing fields.
The problems in Mayfield come as the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) claim that some of today's primary pupils will be pensioners before all the projects on the school building programme are completed...
Pupils get extended holidays as many primary schools in city remain shut - Galway City Tribune
8th January 2010
While a lot of primary schools in Galway City decided not to open yesterday because of the dangerous conditions, all of the secondary schools were back after the Christmas break...
20% of teachers 'set to call it a day' - The Irish Sun
1st January 2010
Irish classrooms face major disruption in the coming year because of a mass exodus of teachers, the Government was warned yesterday
Union chiefs predict up to 10,000 of the country's most experienced teaching staff are poised to take early retirement to safeguard generous pension arrangements...
Brain drain for schools - Senior teachers prepare to retire in droves amid pension changes fears - Irish Daily Mail
1st January 2010
Our schools will be cleared out of many experienced teachers and principals in the coming months thanks to Brian Lenihan's Budget unions have warned. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation has predicted a 'massive increase in retirements' next year...