Some newly qualified secondary school teachers will have to put up with being employed on an hour-by-hour basis for at least the rest of this decade because of the crisis in the country.

Teachers are being forced to mix classes from different years together, withdraw provision of vital Leaving Certificate subjects, and remove guidance counselling services because of chronic under-staffing.

Attempts to cut maternity leave for teachers may face legal challenges, with teaching parents calling the measures anti-family.

It might have been the friendliest welcome of the week for Ruairi Quinn at the TUI conference but it may have been the hardest to endure.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has warned teachers that if they reject the Croke Park II proposals, the Government will be forced to hit frontline services.