An insider's guide to education

• After the Budget, the gloom in the education sector has deepened. There was a general expectation that some of the harsh medicine doled out in the Estimates would be softened. But what happened? No more money for primary schools, a recruitment ban and no relief for the hard-pressed third-level sector.

The question now is whether the honeymoon period enjoyed by Noel Dempsey is coming to an end. That tough INTO statement, telling the Minister he should be ashamed of himself, will not have gone down well in Marlborough Street.

The HEA and the university dons are keeping quiet for now, but they will want to see some relief for the universities before long. Meanwhile, the atmosphere at last Thursday's meeting of the heads of the Institutes of Technology was said to be very black.

Noel Dempsey suddenly seems besieged on all sides by the education partners. And then there are those students promising an unprecedented revolt if he moves on fees. Hard times.

• Expect demands for teacher unity to dominate the annual conferences. Moderates in both the ASTI and the TUI - who worry about the hawks in their midst - are very keen on the idea of a merger. Better still, hard-liners in both unions can also see the benefit of a more powerful trade union. The only question now - is there room on the bus for the INTO?

• That ASTI decision to back the €37 per hour supervision victory was a stunning victory for.... (would you believe?) - the TUI.

Yes, in all the commotion about the vote, the TUI's role in securing a very good deal was ignored. So stand up "Gentleman" Jim Dorney, ex-president John McGabhainn and and current president Derek Dunne. It was largely the negotiating skills of these people - with some help from John Carr of the INTO - who delivered a deal worth €1,400 per year to teachers.

• The ASTI vote in favour of supervision is causing some embarrassment for the hawks in ASTI. In many cases, their branches simply ignored their advice, voting to back the supervision deal. ASTI's 180-member CEC has already seen a shake-up with the influx of some new members. Is there a night of the long knives coming for some in the powerful 23-member Standing Committee?

• Another stunning victory for USI Tsar Colm Jordan. Having seen off attempts to undermine USI in TCD, he has now scotched plans by some in UCD to leave the national organisation. Is there no stopping this man?

Got any education gossip? You can e-mail us in confidence at teacherspet@irish-times.ie