INTO welcomes govt plan to tackle educational disadvantage

The Irish National Teachers Organisation has welcomed a new government plan to tackle educational disadvantage in poorer areas.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced details of the five-year plan to the INTO annual conference in Galway today.

Ms Hanafin said the strategy was designed to deliver a more integrated and targeted approach to disadvantage in education.

INTO vice-president Sheila Noonan said the minister had promised that additional resources, including teachers, would be provided, while class sizes would be reduced.

However, Ms Noonan added: "That's all very positive, but like everything else, the devil is in the detail and we're not entirely sure when this exactly is going to roll out and how many teachers are concerned."