INTO strike warning over Snip report

The union representing primary school teachers has warned that the recommendations made by An Bord Snip in its report published today would cause "devastation" in the sector.

"Any attempt by Government to implement those proposals would be firmly resisted by public protest and industrial action," the INTO said in a statement.

“Cutbacks on this scale will put Irish primary education back decades,” said INTO general secretary John Carr, who described the scale of the proposed cutbacks as "despicable".

Among the recommendations made by the report is the amalgamation of smaller primary schools, a reduction in the number of special needs assistants, cuts in capitation grants to primary schools and an increase in staffing schedules.

"If the recommendations on the amalgamation of schools are accepted then schools will close, those that remain open will be packed to overflowing and parents will be forced to pay more for school transport and the running costs of schools,” said Mr Carr.

Mr Carr said proposals to cut school funding by 20% fail to recognize that Ireland is already the second last in the EU league of spenders on education. “Primary schools are propped up and kept going by voluntary fundraising and parent contributions.”

Mr Carr said teachers will not accept having to bail out bankers, speculators and developers.

The INTO also rejected an ESRI call for public service pay to be cut again.