IMPACT’s Education division held its conference in Galway in early April. Here’s a roundup of the main news items from the conference.

Divisional chair Gina O'Brien spoke on RTE's Morning Ireland about the range of issues covered by the conference, you can listen to that interview here. Gina’s opening address to conference is available here.

The Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, made a commitment to tackle working conditions for special needs assistants (SNAs) in schools. The minister covered a wide range of issues, including upcoming pay restoration talks.

Also on the agenda was Early Childhood Care and concerns about cuts to the School Completion Programmes (SCP).  A copy of Minister O'Sullivan's speech is available here, and a copy of IMPACT deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan's response is available here.

Delegates also voted on a motion to seek improved recognition on pregnancy related sick leave, and RTE's Sean O'Rourke spoke to school secretary Marion Jackson about the issue of grant paid school secretaries. IMPACT delegates also passed an emergency motion to support Dunnes Stores workers in their dispute with the retailer.