Principals get €2,500 for keeping schools open during pay row

SECONDARY school principals and their deputies will receive €2,500 each for keeping schools open during the year-long supervision crisis caused by the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland pay dispute.

The payments, totalling €2.6 million, will be outlined to schools by the Department of Education this week. However, principals say they are insufficient. National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals director Mary McGlynn said the payment does not fully recognise the extra work and stress endured by members forced to manage the supervision crisis.

Principals face another headache this summer because the department has cut the allocation of part-time teachers to fill concessionary posts. The department announced yesterday it has reduced the number of allocations - for teaching minority subjects or filling in for retired or absent teachers - from 1,000 last year to 700 this autumn.