Using the sectoral bargaining provision of the current pay agreement, the INTO has reached agreement with Departments of Education and Public Expenditure on a number of outstanding claims.

            The most significant outcome is payment of the long-standing award to principals and deputy principals, as recommended by the second benchmarking body in 2007. It has been a source of ongoing grievance that the award of an independent adjudication process was not honoured and the INTO has worked doggedly in the interim to secure payment.

            It is very welcome news for retired principals/deputy principals to learn that there will be a consequential uplift in the pensions.

            Though a date for payment of these has not yet been announced, the increases will be backdated to 1February 2022.

            Details of the reconfiguration of allowances for principals and deputy principals are in Department of Education Circular 17/2022.