Teachers fury at Dempsey as extra funds ruled out for school buildings

ANGRY teachers lashed out at Education Minister Noel Dempsey yesterday when they booed and jeered him as he announced there would be no extra money available for school buildings.

At the Irish National Teachers Organisation annual congress in Bundoran, Mr Dempsey talked tough but received an equally robust response as the teachers reacted with fury and began shouting at the minister.

Mr Dempsey tried to recover from the angry exchanges when he said: “But over five years, school building projects will be listed and you’ll be able to see the progress.”

However, the teachers continued their chorus of shouts about broken promises and Government jets.

Mr Dempsey battled on and told them more inspections of schools were needed and deputy principals in particular would have to carry out the work they were paid for.

The minister called for a new start to relations with the profession and also announced plans for a consultative process on the whole education debate, to include not just teachers, but students and management.

INTO general secretary John Carr called it a calculated slap in the face and also criticised the lack of funds for school buildings.

Last night, Mr Dempsey told the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland annual convention we are on the threshold of a period of change in Irish education.

In a guarded reference to the recently resolved pay dispute with the union, he said the education debate has too often been about inputs and not enough about incomes.

“Too often the debate is limited by self-interest rather than the big picture. I intend to engage in a new national consultative process about the future shape of our education system,” he said.