May 2010

INTO in the News

Students will be hit by row over vacant school posts - Irish Independent
27th May 2010
Secondary schools face "inevitable disruption" after the summer holidays as a row rages between government departments over filling vacant promotion posts... And the Irish National Teachers' Organisation is pressing for larger primary schools to be included in the deal...

Forget Anglo - invest in children's futures instead - Irish Independent
26th May 2010
David McWilliams - Last week I had a great night in Limerick.  I was down to host an evening of music, debate and political cabaret...

Church body demands more cash from schools - Wicklow Times
25th May 2010
Peter Mullan, Media Officer for the Irish National Teachers' Organisation said it was the responsibility of the government to fully fund the real operating costs of all school management bodies so that no school is asked to make a contribution. "Primary schools are run by voluntary boards of management that require management support," said the spokesperson. "This needs to be properly funded and this should be done by government on an annual basis."

Dublin's Talking - Dublin's Country
24th May 2010
Analyses of the recent rejection of the Croke Park pay deal by the TUI & ASTI and its acceptance by the INTO members - Interviews: Peter Mullan (INTO) & Joe Moran (ASTI) [09:44am] 6min approx.

Inside Education on 103.2 Dublin City FM
24th May 2010
Programme 46, John Carr the Educator
This is the first of a two part interview recorded with John Carr to mark his retirement from INTO on the Inside Education programme on 103.2 Dublin City FM. In the interview he talks about his days as a teacher and principal in Belgrove National School in Clontarf...

Teacher unions split over public pay agreement - Sunday Independent
23rd May 2010
The country's largest teachers' union has voted by an overwhelming margin of 65 per cent to 35 per cent — or nearly two to one — in favour of acceptance of the Croke Park Agreement on public service pay and reform. The ballot by post of the INTO's 32,000 strong membership produced a 66 per cent turnout - some 13,655 members voted to accept the agreement while 7,273 rejected the proposals...

Only a third of workers support action on pay cuts - Sunday Tribune
23rd May 2010
Fewer than one in three public sector workers believes industrial action against the pay cuts is justified, according to a new survey of Irish workers...

Over 300 amateur teachers take jobs - Star on Sunday
23rd May 2010
"While the numbers have gone down slightly since last year, it is still unacceptably high at a time when graduate teacher unemployment is quite significant". The Irish National Teachers Organisation said it "will be raising the matter with the Department of Education".

Teachers Split Over Pay Deal - Irish Sun
22nd May 2010
INTO representing primary teachers, voted by two to one in favour.  INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan insisted the agreement would protect workers and their families during the bad times.  She said "The agreement gives some certainty on pay and jobs despite clear warnings of further substantial cuts to public spending".

Saturday Edition - Newstalk 
22nd May 2010 
Interview with Sheila Nunan (INTO) who discusses the Croke Park pay deal. [08:12] 2 min

Teacher unions split on Croke Park deal - Irish Independent
22nd May 2010
Teachers were last night split down the middle on the Croke Park pay and reform deal. The two second-level unions - the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) - rejected the deal, while primary teachers voted in favour...

INTO vote in favour of Croke Park Deal - Daily Mail
22nd May 2010
INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan insisted the deal provided protection for workers and offered some certainty on pay and jobs.

Morning Focus - Clare FM 
21st May 2010 
Margaret Cooney (Retired Principal, Holy Family Senior School) and Sean McMahon (INTO representative) discuss the difficulties facing school principals in light of government budget cuts. [9:09am] 21mins

Nine O'Clock News - RTE One 
21st May 2010 
Members of the INTO have voted to accept the Croke Park agreement. The agreement has been rejected by the ASTI and TUI. Interview with Noel Ward (INTO), Peter McMenamin (TUI) and John White (ASTI)...

Drivetime - RTE Radio 1
21st May 2010
Teachers’ unions ballot implications discussed -Interview: John White (ASTI) [4:32pm] 8min approx. - Interview: Sheila Nunan (INTO) says the SIPTU and IMPACT votes are also crucial [6:23pm]

Sligo student recognised for stylish penmanship - Sligo Post
18th May 2010
Speaking at the finals, Jim Higgins, President of the INTO said: "It is fantastic to have watched the popularity of this competition grow over the last number of years. In an age when online forums are becoming increasingly popular as a form of every day communication it is more important than ever that we encourage young pupils to develop their handwriting skills. As the future seems set to go online I am positive that the skill of handwriting will be a constant asset for people in this digital age."

Teachers Face Cuts - Irish Sun
18th May 2010
Primary teachers have been warned to back the Croke Park deal or face drastic pay cuts when the Government seeks €6billion in savings. The Irish National Teachers Organisation represents over 31,000 members and warned that the Government plans to cut the budget deficit by 3billion this December and €3billion next year. It said "In the absence of an agreement, it is the view of the Central Executive Committee that there's a real threat of pay cuts".

Teachers told to back Croke Park deal or face pay cut - Irish Independent
17th May 2010
Primary teachers have been warned to back the Croke Park deal or face drastic pay cuts when the Government seeks EUR6bn in savings. With just days to go before balloting ends, the only teacher union backing a "yes' vote said there was a "real and substantial threat" that wages would be slashed again...

Schools in crisis as workload sparks exodus of principals - Irish Independent
14th May 2010
A leadership crisis is engulfing primary schools as principals head for the exit door in record numbers. An unprecedented 389 principals retired in 2009, new figures reveal. And evidence suggests more than 400 others are set to follow them into early retirement this year...

The Scott Williams Show - Q102
13th May 2010
1,000 new teaching jobs are to be created in September with a further 1,000 expected next year. Interview with Peter Mullan (INTO) and Sean Dempsey (Dublin 15 Primary Principals group).

Lunchtime - Newstalk
13th May 2010
The Department of Education has confirmed that over 1,000 new teaching jobs will be created in September, this decision is mostly due to the surge in the number of full time students. Sheila Nunan, General Secretary of the INTO discusses this announcement.

Shaun Doherty - Highland Radio 
13th May 2010 
Dr Eleanor Updale discusses a movement to abolish homework because of its detrimental impact on family life. Peter Mullan (Irish National Teachers’ Organisation) comments.

The Morning Show - East Coast FM
13th May 2010
Deputy Joe Behan (Ind) discusses the announcement by the Department of Education that 2,000 new teaching jobs will be created. Peter Mullan (INTO) joins the discussion.

News at One - RTE Radio 1
13th May 2010
Catriona Perry reports from St Patrick’s teacher training college in Drumcondra to hear what student teachers have to say about their future prospects in light of today’s announcement from the Department of Education on extra teaching places. Interview: Colm Gibbons (Outgoing Students’ Union President), Ciara O’ Callaghan (Student), Amy Curran (Student)...

Rise in pupil numbers to create 2,000 teacher jobs - Irish Independent
13th May 2010
More than 1,000 new teaching jobs will be created by September - with a further 1,000 expected next year. The jobs are being given the green light because of a huge surge in the number of full-time students, which now tops one million for the first time in the history of the State...

Hannah Smith from Aughnagarron - Longford News
12th May 2010
Hannah Smith from Aughnagarron NS, Granard, Longford came first in the 'Senior Infants Category' of the Irish Handwriting Competition which was run by EBS Building Society in partnership with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO). The competition, now in its 18th year, was open to all national schools throughout the country and this year focused more than ever on keeping the art of handwriting alive in the schools across the country.

Gaivilie's got the write stuff - Meath Chronicle
8th May 2010
Gaivile Stankeviciute, a second class pupil in St. Paul's Primary School, Navan, who was awarded first place in the regional section of the EBS/INTO Handwriting Competition. Gaivile went on to come second in the national competition and received her medal and certificate at EBS headquarters in Dublin on Saturday 24th April.

Tipp top writing by county's pupils - Nenagh Guardian
8th May 2010
The presentation of prizes to entrants in the Co Tipperary final of the INTO/EBS Handwriting Competition took place recently at the Horse and Jockey Hotel. Pupils from 60 schools in the county took part in the competition. The standard of writing was excellent and the judges had the unenviable task of choosing the winners. Chris Coffey representing the sponsor EBS told the children of the importance of handwriting for job applications. Lucy Ryan of the INTO thanked all the entrants and complimented the schools for their efforts.

Department says deal will not affect teacher holidays - Irish Times
6th May 2010
Teacher holidays and the length of the school day will be unaffected by the Croke Park deal, the Department of Education said yesterday. The department issued the clarification to the teacher unions as more than 50,000 teachers prepare to vote on the deal this week.

Maoiniu ag teastail do scoileanna ata plodaithe - Foinse
5th May 2010
Duirt Uachtaran an INTO Jim Higgins, in agallamh le Foinse go bhfuil 100,000 dalta bhreise le tosu ar an scoil sna deich mbliana amach romhainn.

Caitriona puts pen to paper...and wins - Clare People
4th May 2010
Claire Gallagher A fourth-class student from west Clare has brought All Ireland honours to her school. Caitriona O'Gorman from Cahermurphy National School won category D in the National Handwriting Competition. The competition, run by the INTO Irish National Teachers' Organisation) and supported by the EBS Building Society, is in its 18th year.