October 2009
INTO in the News
Unions demand to know about money already saved in cuts - Irish Independent
30th October 2009
Yesterday, on day two of the talks, unions demanded a "pricing" of the pension levy, recruitment embargo, reductions to overtime and allowances contributed by the 300,000-plus public workers to date this year. "We want to know how much our down payment is worth and how much it will be worth in 2010," a source said. John Carr of the Irish National Teachers Organisatin (INTO) was at Government Buildings yesterday for the meetings...
Ireland AM - TV3
29th October 2009
Sheila Nunan discusses the situation for unemployed teachers looking for substitute work...
Nine O'Clock News - RTE One
28th October 2009
Ailbhe Conneely reports that public sector unions are meeting officials from the Dept of Finance to discuss proposals to reduce the public sector pay bill. Interview with Peter McLoone (Impact), John Carr (INTO) and Liam Doran (Irish Nurses Organisation)...
Anger grows as retired teachers earn EUR100 an hour - Irish Independent
28th October 2009
A small number of retired teachers and principals are earning more than EUR100 an hour doing substitute teaching in second-level schools. The figure was revealed last night as anger mounted over the number of retired teachers still working in schools...
School numbers to rise by 150,000 in decade - Irish Independent
28th October 2009
More than 150,000 new school places will have to be provided over the next decade to meet rapidly rising pupil numbers. The dramatic expansion will put government finances under severe pressure at a time when it is trying to curtail public spending...
Schools insist they are prioritising newly qualified teachers for work - Irish Examiner
28th October 2009
Primary principals insisted that they giving priority to newly qualified teachers for substitution work but said graduates could be taken off the dole if the Government set up a supply panel system...
One News - Clare FM
28th October 2009
News Item: The Minister for Education and INTO are encouraging schools to hire unemployed teachers over retired teachers. Interview with Sean McMahon, school principal.
Graduates being overlooked for substitute posts - Evening Echo
28th October 2009
Thousands of teaching graduates are being overlooked for substitute employment in favour of retired teachers...
INTO to meet - Enniscorthy Guardian
28th October 2009
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) in Co Wexford said its officers plan to meet local TDs and Councillors in the coming days, claiming that the only real engagement between the Government and public sector workers over the pension levy and pay cuts in the past six months has consisted of 'one sided solutions'.
Morning Ireland - RTE Radio 1
27th October 2009
Interview with Sheila Nunan, Incoming General Secretary INTO who discusses the latest figures showing that almost 2,000 retired teachers worked in primary and secondary schools last year...
Pat Kenny - RTE Radio 1
27th October 2009
Debate on the accuracy of reports suggesting retired teachers are blocking the younger tachers from taking jobs - interview Sean Cottrell IPPN, Tony Mulcahy Mayor of Clare, Ferdia Kelly Joint Managerial Body for Secondary Schools - mention comments by Sheila Nunan INTO.
Midlands Today - Midlands Radio 103
27th October 2009
Helen O Gorman, INTO Midlands Representative discusses urgings by the Department of Education for schools to hire new teachers over retired teachers.
Tipp Today - Tipp FM
27th October 2009
Peter Mullan, INTO Press Officer discusses urgings by the Department of Education for schools to hire new teachers over retired teachers for substitute shifts.
National Lunchtime News - Today FM
27th October 2009
Primary Principals Network has responded to criticism of schools hiring retired teachers instead of new graduates - the Education Minister has said younger teachers should be prioritized for posts - interview Pat Gough IPPN and Sheila Nunan INTO who wants the Department to set up a substitute teacher panel.
On the QT - Q102
27th October 2009
Around 2,000 retired teachers have been working as substitute teachers while in receipt of a pension. Interview with Sheila Nunan (INTO).
Teaching graduates forced on to dole by grey army - Irish Independent
27th October
Almost 2,000 retired teachers were employed in schools last year as hundreds of new teaching graduates were forced to sign on or emigrate...
Sub teacher shortlist - Western People
27th October 2009
Ballina: The local branch ofthe Irish National Teachers Organisation is presently compiling a list of qualified primary teachers for substitution purposes. This list will be circulated to schools in the Ballina branch area, which has 55 schools. If you wish to have your name included on this list, you can e-mail Vincent Duffy, branch secretary, at ballinabranch@into.ie or text (087) 7987564. You may also text Siobhan Leonard, branch chairperson, at (086) 8417867.
Teachers' leader warns of tough times ahead - Connacht Sentinel
27th October 2009
The country's primary teachers are facing the greatest challenges encountered by the profession for the last 40 years - that's according to the Galway woman at the helm of their representative body. INTO President Maire Ni Chuinneagain told a gathering in her in honour in Galway that teachers were facing the threat of pay cuts, as well as "the destruction and the undoing of all the things we have tried to build up for the education service over the last 40 years"...
Where the unions stand - Sunday Business Post
25th October 2009
Siptu general president Jack O'Connor has said that the government's wish to make cuts to public services without seeking any further contribution from wealthy people is "diametrically opposed" to the unions' position...
Teachers' leader warns Galway colleagues of tough times ahead - Connacht Tribune
24th October 2009
The country's primary teachers are facing the greatest challenges encountered by the profession for the last 40 years - that's according to the Galway woman at the helm of their representative body...
'Stop hiring retirees, give young teachers a fair chance' - Evening Echo
23rd October 2009
The Irish National Teachers' Association (INTO) estimates there are about 1,000 unemployed teachers in the country...
Pat Kenny - RTE Radio 1
22nd October 2009
First conference of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual primary teachers group was held recently – Interview: Sheila Crowley (Teacher)...
Cork Today - C103
22nd October 2009
Schools have been asked by the Department of Education to hire unemployed teachers rather than retirees for substitution cover. Peter Mullans (Irish National Teachers’ Organisation).
Schools 'should hire jobless teachers for substitution cover' - Irish Examiner
22nd October 2009
Schools have been asked by the Department of Education to hire unemployed teachers instead of retirees for substitution cover because of the huge number of graduates seeking work...
School of hard knocks - Irish Examiner
22nd October 2009
Newly qualified primary school teachers are struggling to get started as cutbacks squeeze the availability of teaching posts. The baby boom is creating a little ray of hope for recently qualified teachers in more ways than one...
Teachers warn strike is on way - Evening Echo
22nd October 209
Cork teachers are to vote on industrial action next month. The ballot will include the possibility of crippling strikes if pay cuts are introduced. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) is seeking a fresh mandate from teachers to prepare itself for a winter of industrial strife as more budgetary pain is expected to be announced in December...
Should Irish classrooms be open for business? - Irish Independent
21st October 2009
Principals are clamping down on marketing aimed at commercially exploiting pupils...
Teachers' union lays job blame with Batt - Star
21st October 2009
A teachers’ union yesterday accused Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe of trying to deflect blame from himself over the lack of jobs for new teachers. Earlier this week, Minister O'Keeffe hit out at teachers' unions for not doing enough to make sure principals give more substitute work to newly qualified teachers rather than retired teachers...
Unions oppose 'short, sharp' measures – RTE Business
21st October 2009
The president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has warned that the country is heading into a period of confrontation if the social partners do not reach a fair agreement on national recovery...
Moncrieff - Newstalk 106
20th October 2009
Recent controversy about reporter’s comments regarding Stephen Gateley sexuality discussed with mention of INTO conference on the issue of teachers who are gay and comments on balance between freedom of speech and respecting minorities.
Teachers Pet - Irish Times
20th October 2009
The talks for the revised Programme for Government underlined the lobbying power of the three teacher unions. All three unions' leaders were closely involved in virtually every stage of the discussions on the education plan. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) was the first to seize on the potential of the talks and the way in which they could reverse the education cutbacks...
Computers for schools grant system creates digital divide - Irish Independent
20th October 2009
Brothers and sisters in two schools in inner city Dublin have found themselves separated by the digital divide...
Fear still felt by gay people is to our shame - Irish Times
20th October 2009
In these grim times, it is worth noting that the last 10 days has been a very good time for a large minority of Irish people. For anyone who is gay, lesbian or bisexual, three apparently unrelated events have coincided to create a memorable moment. For anyone who is not gay, lesbian or bisexual, but who believes in common citizenship and common decency, the moment is equally precious...
Bishops to begin talks on handover of schools - Irish Independent
19th October 2009
The biggest shake-up in Irish education for decades is set to begin with historic talks on the transfer of some of the country's 3,000 Catholic primary schools to the State...
Drivetime - RTE Radio One
19th October 2009
Interview with Sheila Nunan (INTO) who discusses the appropriate age for children to start formal education...
Comment by John Carr, General Secretary Irish National Teachers’ Organisation
To Irish Independent
18th October 2009
The INTO last night expressed concerns about what it called a lack of openness in the whole issue of school governance. John Carr, general secretary of the INTO reiterated his call for a forum on the future of primary education...
Coming out in the staffroom - Irish Times - Supplement
17th October 2009
Following a pioneering conference and the circulation in schools of new guidelines on inclusiveness, will gay teachers now find it easier to be open about their sexuality. Last weekend, the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual primary teachers' group (LGB) carved out a piece of Irish social history when it held its first conference at Dublin's Royal College of Physicians. The LGB is part of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), and 120 delegates in total attended…
Millions spent on schools' prefab rent - Longford Leader
16th October 2009
Schools in Longford are being forced to teach children in buildings of over 70 years old while others have spent millions of euro on renting prefabs, as details emerge that just over half of the Government's 2009 school building programme has been spent...
Talkabout - Radio Kerry
16th October 2009
Interview with Peter Mullan (INTO) who discusses an issue raised by listeners about retired teachers taking subbing positions in schools instead of allowing newly qualified teachers have the opportunity. He also refers to the fact that recent cutbacks of positions in schools “has turned a teacher shortage into a teacher surplus”.
Cork school gets 500 CVs for post as 1,000 jobless - Evening Echo
15th October 2009
Principals in Cork are now receiving on average 350 CVs from out-of-work teachers in reply to each job advertised at their schools. More than 170 unemployed primary school teachers from Cork attended a meeting last night in the SilverSprings Moran Hotel and told of their difficulty in getting jobs. The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), who organised the meeting, estimate there are up to 1,000 teachers nationwide who either can't find work or are getting just a few hours a week — a complete turnaround from 12 months ago...
Tender hopes for Mell school - Drogheda Independent
14th October 2009
Hopes are high that the planned new school for Mell could go to tender this week. Reports on Tuesday suggested that the development, close to the present St Joseph's School, could get the green light within the next day or so...
The Morning Show - East Coast FM
14th October 2009
Sheila Nunan (INTO) discusses the Green Party’s plans for education as part of the programme for government. Deputy Joe Behan discusses concerns over the pupil-teacher ratio.
Illuminating angle of vision on nearly two centuries of Irish education - Irish Times
13th October 2009
Peter Mullan, INTO Media Officer
Although most Irish adults have at one time attended a national school, few will be aware why the development of a national system of education in 1831 was one of the most important innovations in 19th century Ireland...
Kerry Today - Radio Kerry
13th October 2009
First ever conference of lesbian, gay and bisexual primary school teachers took place in Dublin over the weekend – Interview: Síle Crowley (Chairperson, INTO’s Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Teachers’ Group)
INTO addresses Waterford principals on teaching cuts - Waterford News and Star
13th October 2009
Teachers unions declared their opposition to pay cuts at a recent meeting hosted by the Waterford City Branch of the INTO (Irish National Teachers Organisation)...
Parents and schools to tackle homophobic bullying of students - Irish Examiner
13th October 2009
School management, principals and parents have joined forces to help fight the war on bullying and discrimination against gay and lesbian students...
Teachers welcome education measures - Irish Times
12th October 2009
The INTO has described the education measures outlined in the Programme for Government as a "genuine attempt" to protect primary education in a very difficult economic environment...
First gay teachers’ summit takes place – Irishtimes.com
12 October 2009
The first Education Conference of the INTO Lesbian Gay and Bisexual (LGB) Teachers’ Group took place on Saturday...
Midlands Today - Midlands Radio 103
12th October 2009
Damien White (Principal, Killeigh National School) discusses the provision for 500 new primary and secondary level teaching posts in the new programme for government.
Unions limber up for mass protests - Sunday Business Post
11th October 2009
Siptu president Jack O'Connor and Irish Congress of Trade Unions general secretary David Begg say workers are not prepared to accept further pain...
The Wide Angle - Newstalk
11th October 2009
Newspaper review panel discuss the Green Party conference – Sheila Nunan (INTO), Mick Clifford (Sunday Tribune) and Senator Eugene Regan (Fine Gael). [10:10] John Gormley (Minister for the Environment) also speaks about the issue.
Gay teachers hold first conference - Sunday Independent
11th October 2009
The first Education Conference of the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Teachers group took place yesterday in the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin. Opening the conference, chairperson Sheila Crowley said that "lesbian, gay and bisexual teachers belong in staffrooms and classrooms throughout the country". Other speakers at the conference included Senator David Norris, the general secretary of the INTO (Irish National Teachers Organisation) John Carr and the former CEO of the Equality Authority Niall Crowley.
Parents, principals meeting - Clondalkin Gazette
11th October 2009
Parents and principals from local schools in Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown and Saggart came together this week to discuss the needs of local schools at a roundtable meeting on education. The meeting, which was hosted by local Fine Gael Senator Frances Fitzgerald, was attended by John Carr, general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation...
Teachers to vote on action against cuts - Irish Independent
10th October 2009
Teacher unions are preparing for an early ballot on industrial action to oppose government cutbacks...
Three teacher unions to hold ballots for strikes - Irish Times
10th October 2009
Industrial action by more than 50,000 teachers appears inevitable this winter after the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) moved last night to ballot members. The central executive of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) is expected to follow suit today. The executive of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) is also set to ballot members amid growing anger about pay and education cuts...
Nine News - FM104
10th October 2009
The first ever conference of Lesbian, Gay and bisexual primary school teachers is taking place in Dublin today. Interview with Shiela Crowley (INTO).
Saturday Edition - Newstalk
10th October 2009
It appears the Green party has got a promise to recruit 500 extra teachers at the talks with Fianna Fail yesterday. Interview with John Carr (General Secretary of the INTO).
Further cuts likely to trigger industrial action by TUI - Irish Examiner
10th October 2009
Any cuts to teachers' pay or further education cutbacks look almost certain to trigger industrial action by 15,000 members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI), who ate to be balloted for possible strikes...
Fury as EUR376m school cash lies unused - Mirror
9th October 2009
Teachers slam underspend as projects forced to wait. Furious teachers in run-down schools yesterday lashed out after it was revealed the Department of Education has spent just half of its EUR841million budget...
Floods and rats plaguing our prefab schools - Irish Daily Mail
9th October 2009
The principal of one of our most underfunded primaries has attacked Batt O'Keeffe for keeping hundreds of schools in 'Third World conditions' - while almost EUR400million sits unused in Department of Education coffers. It emerged yesterday that the department failed to spend almost half of the budget allocated for school building and improvement projects this year...
Pupils suffer as EUR386m sits in education bank - Herald AM
9th October 2009
The revelation that the Department of Education has yet to spend almost half of the budget allocated to it for building schools and other infrastructure has come in for widespread criticism from education officials as well as those in the construction industry. The director general of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Tom Parlon, has said it would be "criminal" if all the money provided is not spent on what it was intended...
Anger over unspent building fund money - Irish Examiner
9th October 2009
Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe was unable to guarantee yesterday that millions of building money allocated for school buildings would be used for other capital projects if it is not spent by the end of the year...
Minister to pay for classroom laptops with building funds - Irish Independent
9th October 2009
Storm over amount of budget not spent. MILLIONS of euro earmarked for school building this year is to be diverted to pay for long-overdue computers in schools...
Minister urged to use unspent EUR396m on school projects - Irish Times
9th October 2009
Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has been urged to give the go-ahead to essential capital projects in the school building programme after it emerged the Department of Education has yet to spend EUR396 million of its budget...
Quality not quantity of teachers is key to good education' - Irish Independent
9th October 2009
A row erupted last night after a leading international education expert told inspectors that schools could improve with fewer - but better - teachers...
Teacher unions ready for battle - Munster Express
9th October 2009
The Waterford City Branch of INTO hosted a joint meeting in the Tower Hotel, on Tuesday last, of principals and deputy principals from Waterford city, Dungarvan, West Waterford and South Kilkenny primary schools...
Jobless teachers to meet in Cork - The Avondhu
8th October 2009
District 16 of the Irish National Teachers Organisation in North Cork is to host a meeting for unemployed teaching graduate in Silver Springs Hotel on Tuesday next...
The Right Hook - Newstalk
8th October 2009
The Department of Education has yet to spend almost half of its budget of over €800m on building new schools. Interview with Sheila Nunan (INTO).
Moncrieff - Newstalk 106
8th October 2009
Education Dept’s failure to use budget for badly needed capital works – Reporter: Henry McKean – Interview: Enda O’Gorman (NS Principal).
Calls to approve capital projects - Irishtimes.com
8th October 2009
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has called on Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe to give the go ahead to essential capital projects in the school building programme after it emerged that the Department has yet to spend €396 million of its budget...
Half of school building budget not spent - RTE Morning Ireland
8th October 2009
The Department of Education has yet to spend almost half of its 2009 budget for new school buildings and other capital projects. The Department says the shortfall is due to savings made in the cost of projects. Emma O'Kelly, RTÉ's Education and Science correspondent, has the details. We hear from a principal who's been waiting 13 years for a new school and INTO General Secretary Sheila Nunan says any underspend will leave parents despairing...
Education Dept yet to spend €396m of budget – RTE News
8th October 2009
The Department of Education has yet to spend almost half of its 2009 budget for new school buildings and other capital projects even though there is less than three months left in the year...
INTO calls on Minister to green light capital projects - Irish Times
8th October 2009
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has called on the Minister for Education to give the go ahead to essential capital projects in the school building programme after it emerged that the Department has yet to spend €396 million of its budget...
Education cuts could be reversed at no great cost - Irish Times
8th October 2009
While the education cuts were first rolled out by Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe last year, their impact has only been seen in schools from last month...
Christmas aid group rejects criticism - Irish Times
8th October 2009
The Organisers of the Operation Christmas Child campaign have rejected criticism of the project by a teacher writing in the latest edition of the INTO's InTouch monthly journal. Samaritan's Purse (Ireland) said it would be writing to all primary schools participating in the project to ensure there was no confusion about its work...
Public meeting to discuss plight of unemployed teachers - Evening Echo
8th October 2009
A public meeting will be held in Cork next week to discuss the plight of hundreds of fully qualified Cork teachers who cannot secure work. The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) has called a meeting in Cork to discuss what it says is a huge problem in the education sector...
Bring your own toilet roll, pupils are told - Irish Daily Mail
7th October 2009
Schools are asking pupils to bring in their own toilet roll as they struggle to keep costs down. Yesterday it emerged that the headmistress of a Catholic girls' school had been forced to issue the appeal to help balance the books.
Just stay calm - Mirror
7th October 2009
No need to panic as swine flu shuts school...
Vanguard action leaves school little flushed - Irish Examiner
7th October 2009
A van load of toilet roll has been donated to a school which was forced to ask pupils to bring their own paper in an effort to save on its scarce resources...
Permanent teaching post attracts almost 400 applications - Irish Examiner
7th October 2009
A teaching job which attracted almost 400 applications is one of hundreds attracting the same level of interest around the country, according to the principal who had to sift through applications before filling the post last month...
Six One News - RTE One
6th October 2009
Pupils at St.John's Girls National School in Carrigaline have been asked to provide their own toilet paper...
Lunchtime on 4 - 4fm
6th October 2009
Primary school has asked students to bring their own toilet roll to class – Interview: Peter Mullan (INTO) who says under funding of schools is an ongoing problem.
News at 5.30 & Nightly News - TV3
6th October 2009
Pupils at St.John's Girls National School in Carrigaline have been asked to provide their own toilet paper...
One O' Clock News - RTE Radio One
6th October 2009
Pupils required to supply their own toilet paper – Interview: Catherine O'Neill, head teacher at St John's Girls National School in Carrigaline…
Teacher's Pet - Irish Times
6th October 2009
There's a striking and thought-provoking letter from Anne McCloskey, principal of Our Lady of the Wayside NS, Dublin 12 in the latest edition of InTouch, the lively INTO journal …
Cash-strapped school asks pupils to bring own toilet rolls - Irish Independent
6th October 2009
Pupils in a Co Cork school are being asked to bring their own toilet paper to school to help offset funding cutbacks...
INTO teachers list - Western People
6th October 2009
The Ballina Branch of the INTO is compiling a list of qualified Primary teachers for substitution purposes. This list will be circulated to schools in the Ballina Branch area, which has 55 schools. If you wish to have your name included on this list, you can e-mail Vincent Duffy (Branch Secretary) at ballinabranch@into. ie or text 087 7987564. You may also text Siobhan Leonard (Branch Chairperson) at 086 8417867.
E-word raises its ugly head again – Sunday Independent
4th October 2009
A public sector strike will do nothing to prevent a mass exodus...
Union bosses hoard €50m strike war chest - Sunday Independent
4th October 2009
Huge funds could prolong threatened disputes. Ireland's two biggest public service unions have been building up huge war chests ahead of possible strike action...
Are the teachers being disruptive in class? - Irish Times - Supplement
3rd October 2009
The ASTI's move to ban out of hours parent-teacher meetings has caused controversy, but this regular school ritual can be as frustrating for parents as it is for teachers...
Schools see language support teacher numbers dwindle - Longford Leader
2nd October 2009
Schools in some parts of Longford have lost English language teachers in recent months with some seeing their student to teacher ratios double because of Government cutbacks...
Government - Industrial Relations News
1st October 2009
The general secretary of the national teachers' union has said the Taoiseach's announcement "that he plans to use the budget" to impose further pay cuts on public servants has "all but brought the curtain down on partnership". John Carr of the INTO said the union will begin a ballot of teachers for industrial action, "up to and including strike action, if talks with government break down"...
Rural education under threat? - Irish Farmers Monthly
1st October 2009
After a summer of proposed cutbacks in many areas of education, Ireland’s rural national schools seem to be facing the biggest challenges in the months ahead. Amanda Allen takes a look at her own local national school, in Co. Westmeath, and speaks to its Principal on the many threats facing rural education...