The new president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation is John Driscoll, a native of Cork city. He represented District 12 encompassing Cork City South and West Cork, on the INTO Central Executive Committee since 2014.
John graduated from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick in 1980 and is deputy principal of Star of the Sea Primary School, Passage West, Co Cork. He is an active INTO member and has held office at branch, district, and national level. John has previously served as secretary of Cork City South East Branch for a number of years.
He has served as district tutor, planning and providing training courses for NQTs and staff reps. John was also cathaoirleach of the INTO Accounts Committee until his appointment to the INTO executive in 2014.
John is extremely keen to promote recruitment and encourage new members to take active roles in INTO.
Married to Gillian, they have two children Sean and Caoimhe, both of whom are also teachers.
INTO President John Driscoll said:
“Over the last two years, the people of Ireland have faced enormous challenges - Brexit, a pandemic and currently, the impact of an unjustified war. Schools and teachers have shown wonderful resilience and flexibility in coping with these. However, we will continue to strive for improvements and necessary supports. We will campaign for a post-pandemic recovery plan to include fast-tracked class size reductions; increased funding to address soaring energy costs and sufficient investment to enable us to provide appropriate supports for all children.
In particular, the welcome extended to Ukrainian families fleeing from their country demonstrates again the openness of our people. This “Céad Míle Fáilte” must be matched with education supports for Ukrainian children.
As we approach Public Sector Pay talks in the South and mount a pay campaign in the North, INTO will focus on maintaining the real value of teachers’ salaries in an environment of rampant inflation. This will be a key priority in the coming months.
I feel enormously privileged to take on the role of president of this all-island union at such an important moment.”
