Dempsey offers little cheer to delegates despite polite reception

THE vocational teachers were asked to give Education Minister Noel Dempsey a polite welcome and when arrived they applauded on cue.

However, as one teacher later grumbled, there was scant reward for their good behaviour.

“A minister when dealing in industrial relations can’t be some kind of wilting violet,” said Mr Dempsey, setting the tone of his speech.

He did not reverse his decision to cap PLC courses and made no commitment to secure the childcare grant for mothers in Youthreach courses.

He also stood over his decision last Christmas to send inspectors to schools which were not adhering to the standardised school year.

“If my efforts to do so were seen as reflecting on the integrity of individual teachers as some have said, ... that was not my intent.”

However, he praised the role of vocational teachers in tackling educational disadvantage and promised benchmarking payments would be paid to lecturers in Institutes of Technology.

Mr Dempsey’s main focus was once again on league tables, which he said would give parents better information about schools.

However, TUI president Derek Dunne rejected Mr Dempsey’s claim that the union supported his position on the issue.

In another of the few exchanges, Mr Dunne said he had received commitments from Mr Dempsey that educational disadvantage would be tackled.

“There is only one problem, Minister. What has happened in the two years since you said this to me?”

Mr Dempsey acknowledged there were things he “would like to have done” but said he would be presenting a “single integrated strategy” soon on educational disadvantage.