All INTO members are entitled to:

• Professional protection in or out of school arising out of, or in the course of, employment as a teacher;
• Advice and support in disputes with management, inspectors or government departments;
• Indemnity insurance for certain claims not covered by school insurance that might be made for acts arising out of or in the course of their employment;
• An efficient and reliable information service on professional matters;
• A grant to the estate of any member who dies, provided the necessary membership requirements are fulfilled;
• A grant to a member on the death of his or her spouse or civil partner, provided certain conditions are satisfied;
• Grants, in necessitous cases, to ex-members and to the dependents of deceased members;
• Copies of the Organisation’s information bulletins and publications;
• Participation in specific group insurance, finance schemes and other specially negotiated membership benefits and services.

As part of the INTO’s commitment to you we have published a Customer Service Charter (pdf) and Subject Access Request Policy & Procedure (pdf).

The INTO team is based in Vere Foster House in Dublin, led by General Secretary John Boyle, and by Deputy General Secretary Deirdre O'Connor.

If you would like to interview John or Deirdre, please contact the INTO Press Office.

​​The General Secretary and Deputy General Secretary/ Treasurer are supported by a number of Assistant General Secretaries, Senior Officials, Officials and administrative staff.

INTO Northern Office, based in South Belfast is led by Northern Secretary, Mark McTaggart and Assistant Northern Secretary, Marie O'Shea.

Find the person you are looking for by browsing this section via the links below where staff are listed alphabetically by role.

• President & Vice-President
• General Secretary & Deputy General Secretary
• Northern Secretary and Assistant Northern Secretary 
• Northern Office Staff
• Committees
• Branch and District Officers
• School Representatives
• Health & Safety Representatives
• INTO Career Learning Reps

The organisational structure of the INTO is governed by Rule 4 of the INTO Rules and Constitution and is as follows:

• Congress
• Central Executive Committee (22 members)
• Benefit Funds Committee (7 members)
• Northern Committee (16 members)
• Education Committee (18 members)
• Equality Committee (18 members)
• Principals' and Deputy Principals' Committee (18 members)
• Districts (16)
• Branches (180)
• Members (50,042)

Annual Congress

Annual Congress is held at Easter and is the supreme governing body of the Organisation. Organisation policy is determined by Annual Congress or by Special Congresses which are called from time to time. Branches, Districts, CEC, BFC and NC are entitled to submit motions for consideration at Annual Congress.

National Committees

There are six national committees:

1. Central Executive Committee
2. Benefit Funds Committee
3. Education Committee
4. Equality Committee
5. Northern Committee
6. Principals' and Deputy Principals' Committee

Central Executive Committee

22 members

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) consists of the President, Vice-President, the Ex-President, one District Representative from each of the 16 Districts, and three full-time officials: the General Secretary, the General Treasurer and the Northern Secretary. The duty of the CEC is to carry out the orders of Congress, to report on the progress made on the implementation of each resolution passed at the previous Congress and to manage, superintend and direct the affairs of the Organisation between Congresses.

CEC Electoral Districts

Benefit Funds Committee

7 members

The Benefit Funds Committee (BFC) consists of five elected representatives, one for each of five electoral divisions, together with the General Secretary and the General Treasurer. The Committee administers various funds of the Organisation, in particular the Benevolent Fund and the Illness and Mortality Fund.

Education Committee

18 members

The Education Committee (EDC) consists of the President and the Vice-President and one representative elected by each of the 16 Districts. The Education Committee advises the CEC on educational matters. The Education Committee submits an annual report to Congress and prepares reports for the Organisation's annual consultative conference on education matters.

Equality Committee

18 Members

The Equality Committee (EQC) consists of the President, and the Vice-President and one representative of each of the 16 Districts. The function of the Equality Committee is to advise the CEC on equality matters. The Equality Committee submits an annual report to Congress and prepares reports for consideration by the Organisation from time to time.

Northern Committee

16 members

The Northern Committee is elected annually by the members in Northern Ireland to manage the affairs of the Organisation in that area. A Northern Conference is held annually to determine policy on matters of concern to members in Northern Ireland.

Principals' and Deputy Principals' Committee

18 members

The Principals' and Deputy Principals' Committee (PDC) consists of the President and the Vice-President and one representative elected by each of the 16 Districts. The committee was formed in 2005 after a resolution for its inception was passed at a Special Rules Congress in 2004. The PDC advises the CEC on matters relating to school leadership, submits an annual report to Congress and prepares reports for the biennial Principals and Deputy Principals Consultative Conference.

The objectives of the INTO are:

• To unite and organise the teachers of Ireland and to provide a means for the expression of their collective opinion on matters affecting the interests of education and of the teaching profession.
• To safeguard and improve the conditions of employment of its members, and to promote their interests.
• To regulate the relations between members and their fellow members, and between members and their employers.
• To afford advice and assistance to individual members on professional matters.
• To promote the interests of education and to support the concept of equal access to full education for all children, and to strive for the raising of educational standards.
• To afford to the authorities responsible for the administration of education the collective advice and experience of the members.
• To cultivate a spirit of fraternal co-operation with kindred organisations in this and other countries, to develop and maintain close links with retired members in Northern Ireland and the Retired Teachers' Association of Ireland (RTAI), and to build on and develop existing links with trade union bodies.
• To establish and administer a Fund or Funds for the purpose of providing assistance to members and their dependants in accordance with the rules.
• To encourage the promotion and development of Comhar Linn INTO Credit Union and other services and facilities of benefit to members.
• To provide, either directly or indirectly, benefits and facilities for members.
• To promote the principle of equality in all aspects of education and the teaching profession.

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), founded in 1868, is the oldest and largest teachers' trade union in Ireland. It represents 44,307 teachers at primary level in the Republic of Ireland and 7,256 teachers at primary and post-primary level in Northern Ireland. Total membership is 51,563 (May 2023).

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), founded in 1868, is the oldest and largest teachers' trade union in Ireland. It represents 45,156 teachers at primary level in the Republic of Ireland and 7,196 teachers at primary and post-primary level in Northern Ireland. Total membership is 52,352 (September 2023).