Pay to top agenda at INTO conference today

The Irish National Teachers Organisation national conference begins today in Tralee, Co Kerry, with pay set to top the agenda.

The primary teachers unions is due to debate a number of motions, including one which demands the benchmarking body bridges the gap between teachers and other graduate professionals.

INTO president Donal O'Loinsigh said teachers on both sides of the border have felt for some time that the levels of productivity they are delivering are not being adequately rewarded.

He added that teachers are "being left floundering in the slipstream" of the booming economy.

Minister Michael Woods is due to address the conference tomorrow.