Head of teachers' union attacks former education minister [IrishTimes]
- Published: 25 April 2010
THE HEAD of the union representing colleges has launched a strong attack on former education minister Batt O’Keeffe.
Mike Jennings, general secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers, welcomed the new Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan, and wished her well.
But he also told delegates to the IFUT annual conference: “It is tempting to remark that under the heading of understanding the higher education system and how it works, she could hardly fail to be an improvement on her predecessor,” a reference to Mr O’Keeffe.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
VEC boss to report on loss-making deal [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 24 April 2010
THE chief executive of County Cork VEC has broken his silence on its loss of substantial sums in a school computers deal and confirmed the state’s spending watchdog was probing the issue.
In a letter to members of Cork County VEC, its chief executive, Barra Ó Briain, revealed he has responded to separate inquiries from the Comptroller and Auditor General, John Buckley, and the Department of Education and Skills.
Mr Ó Briain said he was required to do so after an anonymous tipster alerted the Dáil Public Accounts Committee to the fallout from an unorthodox computers contract.
Read more: www.irishexaminer.com
Recession prompts cut in Communion cash as children return to saving [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 24 April 2010
GONE are the stretch limos, diamante-studded tiaras and dresses the price of a small car.
Today’s First Holy Communion kids are having to make do with less and most are going back to the old habit of saving their money.
The average Communion gift is now €37 versus €50 last year and there has been a big increase in the number of children likely to save some or all of their Communion money. With about 60,000 children making their First Communion in the coming weeks, EBS Building Society has released research which gives details on Irish adults’ attitudes to Communion spending.
Read more: www.irishexaminer.com
Unemployed architects to give workshops in schools [IrishTimes]
- Published: 24 April 2010
A GROUP of architects who have found themselves out of work as a result of the economic downturn are to visit primary schools with a view to “increasing children’s awareness of their built environment”.
The initiative, being run through a programme developed by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI), is being discussed at the Waterford Festival of Architecture taking place this weekend.
“The schools programme will start with developing the children’s awareness of their own homes, gardens and streets with a view to encouraging a greater awareness of architecture in the wider community,” said festival chairwoman Anne Harpur.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Coughlan rules out curbing pay packages [IrishTimes]
- Published: 23 April 2010
THE GOVERNMENT had no plans to introduce legislation curbing remuneration packages for those responsible for the banking crisis, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan told the Dáil.
“I am not aware of any further legislation that may be introduced in this regard,” she said.
She was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who asked if the Government intended introducing legislation “to do something about the extent of bonuses and pensions paid to persons who were clearly grossly incompetent in their duties”.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
