IPPN

Last Updated: Wednesday, 22 October 2008 01:00

The impact of Budget 2009 sent shock waves through Primary Schools throughout the country. This shock has now changed to anger as we anticipate the impact the proposed changes will have. Reverting to the financial resources and staffing levels of 2006/2007 while addressing the reality of schools in 2009 is a retrograde step that will have devastating consequences.

Principals' Survey

We really appreciate the huge response to our survey requesting details of teaching positions that will be lost arising from Budget 2009. This detail is essential to IPPN and we ask as a special request that if you haven't completed the survey to date, please do so before 10.00am tomorrow Thursday. Even if your school is not likely to lose teaching posts please complete the survey on http://www.EducationOpinion.ie/ as it provides better quality statistics.

Principals in the Media

Congratulations to Ann Ryan for her superb contributions on RTE One's Six-One News and Newstalk's The Right Hook. IPPN is proud of the way Ann articulated her views in such a calm and professional manner without over-the-top melodramatics. The Labour Party has also issued a statement today based on the implications of the budget on Ann's school, St. Mark's, Tallaght. You may also recall that Ann's school was featured on a Prime Time Special on the under funding of Primary Schools commissioned by IPPN last term. Great credit is due to Principals' who are willing to stand up and be counted.

National Alliance for Primary Education

We are delighted to report that a meeting will take place tomorrow Thursday between all the Primary Education Partners. The purpose of this meeting is to create a National Alliance for Primary Education where we speak with one voice in our determination to reverse the effects of Budget 2009. Fergus Finlay, CEO Barnardos, has agreed to facilitate the group in formulating a collective response. Please see a copy of the invitation issued by IPPN at the end of this page.We will report the outcome of the meeting in due course.

Is sinne le meas,

Larry Fleming, Seán Cottrell
President, Director
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dear

Further to yesterday's e-mail, I want to confirm details of tomorrow's meeting. Please note the change of time to 9.00am. This was required to facilitate the majority of those who wanted to take part. We are heartened by the interest expressed in forming a unified approach to the challenge that Primary Education faces, if Budget 2009 is adopted.

Considering the task involved in formulating agreed priorities and strategy and the necessity to achieve this in such a short time frame, Fergus Finlay has been invited to act as an independent facilitator for this process and will chair tomorrow's meeting.

I appreciate your co-operation in attending this meeting at such short notice. I look forward to meeting with you tomorrow morning.

Is mise le meas

Seán Cottrell
Director
IPPN
1890 21 22 23

Venue: Room 117, Royal Dublin Hotel, O'Connell Street
Date: Thursday, October 23rd 2008
Time: 9am - 10.30am, Refreshments from 8.30am

Recipients
Áine Lynch - National Parents' Council - Primary
Bláthnaid Ní Ghríacháin - Gaelscoileanna
Donal O Conaill - An Foras Pátrúnachta
Eileen Flynn - Catholic Primary School Management Association
John Carr - Irish National Teachers' Organisation
John McCullagh - Church of Ireland Board of Education
Teresa Ní Mhainán - Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo.
Toni Buggle - National Association of Management Bodies in Special Education
Fergus Finlay - Chairperson