June 2011

INTO in the Media

Pluralism' and patronage in primary schools - Irish Catholic
30th June 2011
Last week's Forum on Pluralism and Patronage in the Primary Sector heard a wide variety of views on the divesting of patronage of Catholic schools in Ireland.....The INTO said that the admissions policy of denominational schools is "discriminatory" as they may enroll pupils on the basis of their religion. The INTO also criticised Section 37 (1) of the Employment Equality Act, which allows schools discriminate on the basis of its ethos in hiring teachers, saying this is "a concern for many teachers, but particularly LGB (lesbian, gay and bisexual) teachers." It also suggested changes to Rule 68 of Rules for National School: which says that "a religion" ethos should inform and vilify the whole work of the school"...

Coleman at Large - Newstalk
29th June 2011
Religious Education. Interview with Peter Mullan (INTO) and Dr John Murray (Mater Dei Institute) who discuss religious control of primary schools. Panel also discuss - Dr Bill Tormey (Fine Gael) and Constantin Gurdgiev (Trinity College)

Keith Finnegan - Galway Bay FM
29th June 2011
Digital Literacy in Irish Youth. Peter Mullan (Press Officer INTO) discusses digital literacy is strong in Irish youth according to OECD research.

Digital literacy strong in Irish youths - Irish Times
29th June 2011
Irish teenagers are above average at reading digital and online texts, according to an educational study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.....Sheila Nunan of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation said: "Contrary to what was claimed by many commentators last year when the results of the printreading tests were announced, there is no meltdown in Irish educational standards."...

INTO presentation - Roscommon Herald
28th June 2011
Caroline O'Dowd pictured receiving a presentation from Joe Killeen, Central Executive INTO, on the occasion of her retirement from teaching at Cloghogue NS, Castlebaldwin.

Bigger classes on the way as pupil numbers begin to soar - Irish Independent
28th June 2011
Education Bailout conditions mean cuts will also hit weakest students. Bigger classes and less support for weaker pupils is the price parents will pay for a massive increase in the school population over the next seven years....Teacher unions have already warned against further cuts in frontline school staffing in order to make ends meet. In response to the threat of increased class sizes, Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary Sheila Nunan said Irish primary class sizes were already the second highest in the EU....

The child abduction stories that feed parents' fears - Irish Times - Supplement
25th June 2011
The child Despite a series of stories about attempted child abductions, the crime is almost unheard of here....The Irish National Teachers' Organisation says that schools always report incidents to the Garda and take any advice offered. The trade union's president, Noreen Flynn, adds that while part of a school's response to any serious incident is to pass on information to parents, it will also try to dispel rumours. Flynn adds that while the Stay Safe programme in national schools warns children never to go anywhere with a stranger, it also teaches them that "most strangers are nice people"...

Primary teachers 'agnostic' on issue of school patronage - Irish Times
24th June 2011
Teachers were "somewhat agnostic" when it came to the patronage of primary schools, Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary Sheila Nunan told the advisory group on school patronage yesterday. They were more likely to be drawn in when it came to boards of management, she said. Still, teachers attached "huge importance" to the patronage debate and were "glad it hasn't descended into trench warfare as they have no vested interest in any patron body", she said. Sacramental preparation was "a very key feature of our denominational schools," she said. Over recent years "teachers have been concerned that a responsibility has shifted to the school [for such preparation] which is not necessarily reflected in the faith community itself, she said. The issue of teachers who were not believers being involved with such preparation "arose from time to time"...

Call to take 'religious spirit' out of classroom - Irish Independent
24th June 2011
A rule requiring that a "religious spirit" runs through all the work done in primary schools should be gone, education leaders said yesterday.....The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said it was not fair to parents who did not share the school's ethos, and who had made arrangements for their children not to attend formal religious education classes. INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said it left teachers open to charges of proselytisation. The union also told the hearing that the requirement on teachers to uphold the religious ethos of Catholic schools could cause some difficulties. Teachers who were divorced or homosexual were fearful that it could be a barrier to their promotion prospects...

VECs 'are an inclusive option' - Irish Examiner
24th June 2011
The country's vocational education committees (VECs) offer the most cost-effective and inclusive option for communities looking for a different kind of primary school, representatives claimed yesterday...The Irish National Teachers' Organisation, which advisory group chairperson Professor John Coolahan acknowledged as the first group to call for such a forum, said fifth and sixth-class pupils should be given a say in any discussions about patronage in their area. The organisation's general secretary, Sheila Nunan; said: "If they were perhaps the child who mightn't have been taking part in the main religious programme, a lot of valuable information could be got out of that." She said teachers have evolved practices as classes become more diverse, culturally and otherwise, but said this has to be reflected in pre-service and ongoing training for the profession. The teachers' organisation also raised concerns about a stipulation in the 1965 rules governing national schools that each school's religious spirit must be part of how every subject is taught. Equality officer Deirdre O'Connor said: "Teachers find it a challenge to cater for the diversity of children in front of them where the denominational spirit of the school has to inform the whole school day."

INTO say not enough done - Drogheda Independent
22nd June 2011
The first 100 days of the Fine Gael/Labour coalition has brought little hope to teachers who are battling to educate children amid a raft of cuts, according to the local branch of the INTO. 'The three areas of concern is the huge level of unemployment among newly qualified teachers, the cuts to staffing levels in schools, and the reduction in language supports and assistance for children with special needs' said Brid Kindlon, Secretary of the branch. She explained that a department 'embargo' has meant that despite many retirements, no new teachers are being taken on in schools.'This is against a background where around 2000 teachers are emerging from teaching college, and fifty per cent of those have no chance of employment.' The INTO branch secretary said that the 'most worrying cuts' were to the supports currently provided for children with special needs.

Making the most of the holidays, 21st century-style - Irish Independent
22nd June 2011
Opinion Piece by Noreen Flynn, President INTO

Today with Pat Kenny - RTE One
22nd June 2011
School Patronage
Discussion about new forum that will attempt to address changeover of school patronage from Catholic to multi or non-denominational ethos schools like Educate Together - Interviews: David Quinn (Iona Institute) & Paul Rowe (Educate Together) - Mention of INTO opinions on the issues.

Maintaining top standards amid cuts worries teachers - Argus
22nd June 2011
The first 100 days of the Fine Gael/Labour coalition has brought little hope to teachers who are battling to educate children amid a raft of cuts, according to the Dundalk branch of the INTO. The three areas of concern is the huge level of unemployment among newly qualified teachers, the cuts to staffing levels in schools, and the reduction in language supports and assistance for children with special needs,' said Brid Kindlon, Secretary of the Dundalk branch...

Traveller education cutbacks - Irish Times
21st June 2011
Madam, - A sad week indeed for education with the abolition of the Visiting Teacher Service for Travellers! At a farewell gathering for one such teacher in Ballyfermot's Labre Park halting site, one of Dublin's most neglected Traveller communities, a Leaving Cert student spoke of the many times she wanted to leave school but was bullied, persuaded, cajoled into going back by the Visiting Teacher who wouldn't take No for an answer. She told how proud she is of the achievement of getting her Leaving Cert, but also of her fears for younger children, many of whom face too many obstacles to get there without that support. It was not just the students these teachers wouldn't take No from; many schools were challenged to accept their responsibility to Traveller pupils by this small service of some 40 teachers. Cutbacks in special education are savage and, I believe, disproportionate, but the complete and immediate abolition of the Visjting Teacher for Traveller Service and the Resource Teachers for Travellers smack of ethnic retribution. Shame on Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn!
Yours, etc, Anne McCluskey, Radharc na hAbhann, Old Bawn, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Michael Reade Show - LMFM
21st June 2011
Special Needs Assistants Cuts
Noreen Flynn (President of the INTO) discusses The Irish Times report on a value for money report into Special Needs Assistants.

Martin addresses schools patron issue - Irish Times
20th June 2011
....Also taking part in this week's forum will be representatives of the National Parents Council, the Church of Ireland, the Islamic Foundation of Ireland, Foras Patrunachta na Scoileanna Lan-Ghaeilge, the Gaelscoileanna, Educate Together, the INTO, the Irish Vocational Education Association, the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education, the Irish Primary Principals' Network and the Department of Education...

Fury over special needs cuts - Evening Herald
18th June 2011
Angry parents and teachers have attacked plans to cut numbers of special needs assistants (SNAs). They say the move means children with behavioural problems will be left without support from September. A cap of 10,575 is being put on the number of SNAs in schools, which means 227 of the 10,802 existing posts will disappear this year, while 475 will be held in reserve and allocated as needs arise...Teachers have warned that this will lead to disruption for other children if those with behavioural problems are not supported from the time they start school...

Schools braced for special needs cuts - Irish Times
18th June 2011
Departmental report finds assistant 'over-allocation'. Schools are bracing themselves for possible cuts in the number of special needs assistants after a Department of Education report found there had been an "over-allocation" of assistants...Last night the Irish National Teachers' Organisation expressed concern at the decision to cut back on special needs supports in junior infant classes. "When a child with special needs does not have those needs met in junior infants, every child starting school is affected," said a spokesperson...

Fury as school staffing cuts to affect most vulnerable children - Irish Independent
18th June 2011
Number of special needs assistants to be slashed. Parents and teachers are furious about staffing cuts that will leave children with behavioural problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), without support in the classroom...The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) called for the decision to be reviewed. "When a child with special needs does not have those needs met in junior infants, every child starting school is affected," said an INTO spokesperson. The INTO said SNAs should be appointed where needed in infant classes...

Hundreds of . SNAs to be cut next year - Irish Examiner
18th June 2011
Schools will have hundreds fewer special needs assistants (SNAs) to meet the care needs of disabled pupils from September following a major review of the service...."Schools should not have to wait until the education of all children is affected before the Department of Education is willing to act," an Irish National Teachers' Organisation spokesperson said...

Drivetime - RTE Radio 1
17th June 2011
SNA Teachers. Education Dept decision on Special Needs teachers allocation discussed. Mention of INTO concerns

RTE News / Ireland
15th June 2011
Further public sector cuts 'unavoidable'
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has said substantial reducations in numbers employed in the public service are unavoidable...INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan said it is a good report card, that teachers have worked hard at it and that public servants have made a huge contribution to the country....

Six One News - RTE One
15th June 2011
Public Sector Cuts
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has said substantial reductions in numbers employed in the public service are unavoidable. Joe MagRaollaigh reports. Interview: Sheila Nunan (INTO).

Unqualified teachers finally axed by Quinn - Irish Independent
15th June 2011
The days of "unqualified teachers" working in schools are coming to an end....The planned move has been welcomed by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), which had warned that it would not work alongside "unqualified teachers" from September....INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said: "It will put an end to the idea that anyone can walk into a classroom and pretend to be a teacher. Only registered teachers can be employed as teachers." Ms Nunan added that it was "a key piece of the architecture to maximise employment for new teachers".

Moves to lift ban on unqualified teachers shelved - Irish Examiner
15th June 2011
Planned legislation that would have allowed unqualified people to teach primary and second-level students is being shelved by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn. Following pressure from unions and the Teaching Council, he has decided not to proceed with legislation to amend part of the Teaching Council Act that would otherwise have meant nobody but registered qualified teachers could be paid for taking classes in primary and second-level schools...The Irish National Teachers' Organisation welcomed the step as good news for hundreds of newly-qualified teachers seeking work...

Union welcomes move to end hiring of 'unquaLified teachers' - Irish Times
15th June 2011
The Irish National Teachers Organisation has welcomed a new Department of Education initiative which should end the practice where "unqualified teachers" are employed in schools, writes Sean Flynn. The department has agreed that section 30 of the Teaching Council Act will be implemented during the next school year. The Teaching Council Act states that only registered teachers can be employed and paid as teachers in schools. "This will put an end to the idea of the unqualified teacher," said INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan.

Campaign to cut school book costs launched - Northside People
15th June 2011
The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) is seeking support from Northsiders for its campaign to reduce the publication of unnecessary new school book editions. The charity is asking parents to sign a petition calling on Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, to set up an effective national book rental scheme....The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has called on the Department of Education and Skills to licence publishers to supply books to schools, which could be used as a way to control the prices and frequency of new editions. "We have called on publishers not to produce new editions of school books unless they are absolutely necessary," said Peter Mullan, spokesperson for the INTO. "We said at our recent conference that the Minister for Education should help in this area by introducing a system for licensing books in school. "The minister would then be able to insist on quality control mechanisms, price restrictions and guarantees that books would be not be revised for a set period of time."

A new chapter opens - Sunday Times
12th June 2011
After years of saying it was none of its business, the Department of Education is finally getting involved in the debate over expensive school books... The Department is giving 15million euro to primary and secondary schools this year to fund book support, but the Irish National Teachers' Organisation has said the grants are not enough to allow schools to run rental schemes...

Tipp Today - Tipp FM
9th June 2011
School Books
Peter Mullan Press and Media Officer of the Irish National Teachers Organisation discusses Minister for Education Ruari Quinns attempt to improve the situation for parents buying school books.

Michael Reade Show - LMFM
3rd June 2011
Special Needs Education
10% cut in teaching resources for special needs, education Minister Ruari Quinn now says that 10% of hours will be kept in reserve until September allowing for late applications. Peter Mullen from INTO discusses this.

Quinn says special needs pupiLs will get, resources they require - Irish Times
3rd June 2011
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation has acknowledged a commitment by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn that special needs children would get the resources they require...

Quinn - Irish Independent
3rd June 2011
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn last night insisted there is no cut to the provision of teaching resources for children with special needs....The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) called for the ring-fencing of education resources and funding in the current economic climate. "Education will contribute to rebuilding society as well as regenerating the economy," INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said...

Midlands Today - Midlands 103
2nd June 2011
Special Needs Funding Cuts. Orla OReilly, mother of a disabled son and President of INTO Noreen Flynn discuss the Department of Education announcement of 10% cuts on teaching resources for students with special needs.

Midday - TV3
2nd June 2011
Education. INTO has criticised cuts in Special Needs teaching support services - Education Dept. has refuted allegations

Teaching supports for special needs cut by 10% - Irish Times
2nd June 2011
INTO says decision will affect most needy in society. Teaching supports for special needs children have been cut by 10 per cent in a move condemned by the teachers' union the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO)...

10pc cut in teaching supports for special need - Irish Independent
2nd June 2011
Parents and unions expressed their anger last night after the Department of Education announced a lOpc cut in teaching supports for children with special needs....The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) condemned the move and said it was another example of cuts being imposed on the most needy pupils. General secretary Sheila Nunan said schools that had been most inclusive of all children would be worst affected. However, she said ultimately all children would be affected by the decision. "Inclusion in primary schools needs adequate resourcing," she said...

Students with special needs to lose 10% of required teaching - Irish Examiner
2nd June 2011
Pupils with special needs are to lose 10% of the resource teaching they need under the latest education cutbacks imposed because of EU/IMF staffing limits....Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary Sheila Nunan condemned the move as another example of cuts being imposed on the most needy pupils, in addition to reduced services for Travellers and newcomer children. "Schools that have been most inclusive of all children will be worst affected. Special needs children cannot cope in classes among the most overcrowded in Europe without the additional help and support given by resource teachers," she said...

Schools hit with 10% cuts, Special needs hours down - Irish Sun
2nd June 2011
Government plans to cut funding for special needs kids were last night condemned as another attack on the most vulnerable in society...INTO slammed the decision insisting the move will effect all children. Parents enrol special needs children in primary schools to be educated. If a school is not given the most basic of educational resources, a teacher, then inclusion will not work. INTO chief said it was yet another example of cuts being imposed on the most needy pupils such as Travellers, the disadvantaged and special needs pupils. Ms. Nunan added that Irish primary school classes are among the most over crowded in Europe

Special-needs cuts slammed - Star
2nd June 2011
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation's slammed a Department of Education decision to cut back on supports for special-needs children. The union said giving 90 per cent of the teaching hours needed to meet special requirements of pupils will hurt society's most vulnerable people

Nine News - FM104
2nd June 2011
Special Needs Assistants
The INTO is condemning special needs cutbacks students will lose 10% of their teaching supports under EU IMF requirements. Peter Mullan of the INTO (interview)

Nine News - Newstalk
2nd June 2011
Special Needs Assistants
A cut in the level of teaching support for special needs children is under fire from parents and teachers. Mention of the INTO.

'School's out' for two distinguished teachers - Sligo Champion
1st June 2011
One is from Battlefield, Culfadda; the other from Dingle in County Kerry. They trained as teachers in Dublin together, graduated together and now, after a combined total of 86 years service, they will retire together as principals from two schools in the same parish. For Jim Higgins, principal of Ardkeeran National School, and Martin Enright, principal of Coolbock National School, both in the parish of Riverstown, it is, of course, the conclusion of distinguished careers; it's also the final curtain on two lifetimes' of commitment to and appreciation of local community, history, heritage and culture. Mr. Higgins, from Battlefield, Culfadda, bows out, having just completed a year as president of the Irish National Teachers Organisation...

Nightly News - TV3
1st June 2011
Special Needs Education
The INTO has criticised what it says are plans by the Dept of Education to cut special education teaching hours by 10%.

News on Two - RTE Two
1st June 2011
Special Needs Teaching
The Department of Education has announced a 10% cut in teaching supports for children with special educational needs. The INTO has condemned the decision. Emma O Kelly reports.

Six One News - RTE One
1st June 2011
Special Needs Teaching
The Department of Education has announced a 10% cut in teaching supports for children with special educational needs. The INTO has condemned the decision. Emma O Kelly reports.

Drivetime - RTE Radio 1
1st June 2011
Education Cuts. Cuts to teacher support staff hours will hit most vulnerable children - Interview: Noirin Flynn (INTO) [6:10pm]- Dept of Education statement read out defending policies regarding teacher numbers