Minister offers little consolation to teachers

ALTHOUGH Education Minister Noel Dempsey quoted John F Kennedy yesterday, his speech offered little to primary teachers except Winston Churchill’s “blood, toil, tears and sweat”.

In a clear rejection of the INTO’s demand for a €1.5 billion building fund, he said the Department of Education would adopt a “longer-term approach” to replacing dilapidated school facilities.

“It simply isn’t possible to meet all demands simultaneously,” he said.