2nd October 2025
The 2025 INTO Principals’ and Deputy Principals’ Conference brought together around 320 delegates and guests in Galway last weekend. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Fostering Resilience through Strengthening Working Relationships’, which provided delegates with an opportunity to discuss the strategies and requirements on a self, school and system level.
At the Conference delegates listened to enlightening and empowering speeches from INTO President Anne Horan, Assistant General Secretary David O’Sullivan; General Secretary John Boyle; the Former Governor of Mountjoy, John Lonergan and the Director of Oide Leadership Dr. Mary Nihill. This year’s keynote speaker was Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tony Bates.
PDC Cathaoirleach Maria O’ Regan and Leas-Chathaoirleach Carmel Dillon presented the findings of research conducted by the PDC into resilient leadership with a focus on strengthening working relationships.
Over the weekend, delegates interacted with fellow principals and deputy principals, outlining their experiences of dealing with a wide range of school leadership matters. Delegates also discussed the importance of resilient leadership and how the social connection with in-school management teams and school leadership teams can play an important part in fostering that.
On the Saturday morning, delegates were given the opportunity to attend workshops. There were a range of workshops on offer including: harnessing artificial intelligence, calming the school environment through non-violent resistance, promoting wellbeing, fostering community through small school clusters, collaborative leadership practices and managing professional relationships.
Addressing delegates, General Secretary John Boyle highlighted how strong working relationships provide a sense of belonging and emotional support, reducing the stress and isolation that can arise during difficult times. He remarked that “when colleagues support each other, the team becomes a source of strength, empowering individuals to face challenges more effectively”. He stressed that within a senior leadership team in a school or indeed in any organisation this support is absolutely vital.
He highlighted successes made since the previous Conference in Wexford 2023 including:
- A 9% increase in salary for members in the South for the last 24 months, and a 16% pay increase plus £1000 for members in the North for 48 months back to 2021.
- The appointment of administrative deputy principals to all special schools together with over 1000 extra special education teachers and nearly 1500 extra SNAs in primary and special schools since 2023. The number of SNAs in primary and special schools has increased by 50% since 2018.
- The placing on a permanent basis of one weekly leadership and management day for teaching principals
- The retention of a national network of substitute supply panels
- The restoration of 750 AP2 posts and 110 AP1 posts
- The securing of school closures to facilitate training and planning for initiatives such as curricular reform, Bí Cinealta and the Revised Child Protection Guidelines with the phasing in of these initiatives over a much longer timeframe than the DEY originally intended
- Capitation grant increase of 22% over the last 2 budgets
Reflecting on the constructive feedback emanating from the discussion groups, he acknowledged the need to make more progress on a range of issues to improve the lot of school leaders.
This year’s keynote speaker was the renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Bates. Dr. Bates shared insights into developing and sustaining personal resilience. He began by challenging delegates to explore the world in a different way. He poses the questions “Why are you here?” and “What do you need?” He remarked that “vulnerability is not a choice but in essence who we are”. He further remarked that when faced with a crisis, our sense of self doesn’t make any sense at all. He proffered that by building from the bottom up and not from the top down and by opening the heart we can overcome obstacles. He recited the poet’s David Whyte’s concept or idea about “crazy” which the poet redefines as the courage to believe in the impossible, to stay committed to an idea, or to simply say “yes” to possibilities.
A poster both in Irish and English outlining supports for school leaders was launched by INTO Vice-President Brendan Horan. Feedback gathered from school leaders over the two-days of this consultative event will be used to inform INTO Policy on school leadership.
The photo gallery from the Principals’ and Deputy Principals’ Conference is viewable here. To watch recordings from the main speakers and presentations from the conference, see here.