Primary school principals conference begins today

Primary school principals are meeting today in Dublin, at the biggest conference of its kind in Europe.

The issue of cuts is likely to top the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) agenda, ahead of the Education Minister Ruairí Quinn's address to the conference tomorrow.

Minister Quinn reiterated yesterday that he will have to introduce some cost-saving measures, though he is to re-examine cuts made to schools in disadvantaged areas.

Former IPPN president Larry Fleming said that the network is interested in moving on from there, and has been trying to push the issue of updating the curriculum for years.

"We're looking at maybe having a look at the primary curriculum again, and maybe more focus on the science and mathematical subjects," he said.