Union accused of lack of support

The INTO leadership was accused of not giving enough support to the campaign against cuts in small rural schools.

Delegate Pádraig Ó Súilleabháin, Beara, Co Cork, said he was very disappointed with the response from the union’s central executive committee to the Save Our Schools (SOS) campaign.

While the campaign was well organised in local communities, there was not enough support from the committee for a national campaign, he said.

“Are we a union, or not? Are we together? I am asking the INTO to please prove to us we are not forgotten.”

He said seven of the nine schools in his area were directly affected by the cuts to small schools.

Donegal delegate Daithi Roberts said small schools felt isolated, bullied, singled out for special attention, and pushed into a corner by the Department of Education. They also felt let down by the INTO leadership.

Union general secretary Sheila Nunan spoke in support of small schools: “What is needed is a coherent, long-term and resourced strategy for sustainable schools into the future,” she said. “Instead, the budget proposes to forcibly amalgamate some small schools by cutting teachers while leaving others untouched.”

There was a lengthy debate on the issue before delegates passed a motion opposing cuts and calling for a concerted INTO campaign for the protection of small schools.