The newly-elected president of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), Joan Ward, has pledged to make the creation of an educational psychology service in the State one of the main priorities for her term in office.

"Children's special needs should be seen as a priority, not a problem. Our slogan, `INTO Serving Education', expresses our dual role: we represent and serve teachers, but addressing children's needs in education is also part of our work, both as teachers and trade unionists," said Ward.

"I see no contradiction between being an advocate of teachers and a campaigner for better educational supports for children with special needs. I intend to be both of these."

Ward will join the INTO's team making oral presentations to the public service benchmarking body this autumn.

"I expect that body to make a substantial award to teachers," she said. "But I am by no means complacent about the need to continue to make our case." Ward is looking forward to making "the case for primary education and the enormous importance of our work". She said she hoped to be part of "an even wider and deeper process of consultation leading up to the oral presentations and right through next school year.

"Our determination to improve teachers' pay and pensions will, I believe, lead to an increased awareness of the importance of teacher unity," she said.

"Much more unites than divides the INTO, ASTI and TUI."