26th February 2025
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) met yesterday with the new Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, to discuss the pressing issues facing primary and special education in Ireland. INTO President Carmel Browne and General Secretary John Boyle led the delegation, outlining the union’s key priorities for the sector.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the INTO to emphasise the urgent need for action on teacher supply, school leadership supports, DEIS funding, special education provision, class sizes, teacher workload and sustained investment in schools.
Addressing teacher supply and supporting school leadership
The INTO highlighted the worsening teacher supply crisis, which has left thousands of primary school positions vacant daily. Recruitment and retention challenges are being exacerbated by high living costs and limited career incentives, with DEIS schools, Gaelscoileanna, special schools, and schools in urban areas facing particular difficulties. The INTO called for the restructuring of salary scales and the introduction of incentives to attract teachers back from abroad, as well as an increase in teacher training places.
The union also stressed the importance of strengthening school leadership by increasing the number of middle leadership posts. The government’s failure to restore the overall amount of assistant principal roles to pre-austerity levels has created excessive workloads for school leaders, making it increasingly difficult for principals and deputy principals to manage their schools effectively. With regards to small schools, the INTO complemented the government for their commitment to extending nationwide the scheme currently being piloted in six localities and called for this measure to be implemented as soon as possible.
Supporting DEIS and augmenting special education
The INTO urged the Minister to ensure robust support for schools serving disadvantaged communities. The union is advocating for a DEIS Plus scheme to provide targeted interventions for the most under-resourced schools, alongside the expansion of home-school liaison services and counselling supports.
Special education provision also remains a major concern, with a need for increased investment in a range of special classes and in-school therapeutic services. The INTO called for more special education teachers and SNAs, as well as improved training opportunities for those working with children with additional needs.
Ringfencing school investment and funding for PE
The meeting also focused on the need for greater financial security for schools, with INTO leaders emphasising that chronic underfunding continues to place an unfair burden on parents and school communities. The union reiterated its call for an increase in the capitation grant, greater support for ICT and curriculum resources including annual grants to complement the implementation of curriculum specifications, and continued investment in school infrastructure.
Commenting after the meeting, INTO President Carmel Browne stressed that she had highlighted the importance of dedicated funding for physical education (PE) as a key wellbeing support for children.
Investment in PE delivery is vital to promoting physical and mental wellbeing among pupils. Schools need adequate funding to provide high-quality PE lessons, ensuring all children have the opportunity to be active and healthy.
INTO General Secretary John Boyle welcomed the engagement with the Minister and expressed hope that the government would take swift action on the issues raised. He stated that he remains confident that the Department of Education and Youth will in the coming weeks signal implementation of a number of system improvement measures which the union has been prioritising.
Schools are facing immense challenges, from teacher shortages to leadership pressures, underfunding, and rising workloads. We look forward to working with Minister McEntee to deliver real solutions that will support teachers, school leaders, and pupils across the country.
The INTO will continue to engage with the government to ensure that the priorities of primary and special education remain firmly on the political agenda.