Class size will be the top question at INTO, TUI and ASTI teachers' conferences this week. Seán Flynn, Education Editor, John Downesand Mark Roddenpreview the conferences

Who? Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO).
Where? Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork.
When? Began last night, continues until tomorrow night.
Members? 29,000 -35,000 in the Republic, 6,000 in Northern Ireland.
Number of delegates: 750.

In a nutshell?INTO members come into this conference in confident mood, buoyed by the success of their class size campaign.

After a slow start (when both Mary Hanafin and the media were sceptical) the campaign took off.

Teachers - and strikingly - thousands of parents flocked to public meetings on cold, wintry nights to complain about those overcrowded classrooms. In all, more than 15,000 people attended regional meetings at over a dozen regional centres.

For a while, Minister for Education Mary Hanafin looked the other way. Her mantra? The Government would love to do something but there's no money left in the kitty - or words to that effect.

But, the huge public campaign - and all that negative publicity - paid dividends a fortnight ago when Bertie Ahern said 4,000 new primary teachers would be appointed. Cue delight in the INTO.

So will class size still be the main issue?

No question. The INTO believes it is on a roll on the issue - and it is not letting the Government off the hook.

Members will expect Mary Hanafin to detail when these promised new teachers will arrive and when they can expect less crowded classrooms.

There will be other issues - the INTO is very strong on issues such as disadvantage, newcomer children and the place of religion in schools in the new Ireland - but it won't want to shift the focus from class size.

What's the verdict on Mary Hanafin?

By and large, INTO members like and admire the Minister.

She is given credit for transforming special needs provision in schools. Members like the way she introduced changes - only after consultation.

Teachers also praise her efforts to attract more males into the staffroom and the huge improvement in special needs provision. Generally, primary teachers credit Hanafin for making them feel better about their job. She has talked up the teaching profession and made teachers feel better about themselves.

This year, there has been a 27 per cent increase in the numbers applying for primary teaching and this mood of broad contentment should permeate the conference. Mary Hanafin can expect a warm welcome - provided she delivers on class size.

Behind the scenes?

After the class size coup, general secretary John Carr is in an unassailable position. Carr is seen as hard-working and unusually modest; it is a winning combination.

Expect some chat around the corridors about the Seanad prospects of his predecessor Joe O'Toole who faces a challenge from former ASTI president, Bernadine O'Sullivan.

So, will there be any fun?

NTO members take great pride in the long night's journey into day at their annual conferences.

Primary teaching is a solitary profession so the annual conference is a great chance to renew acquaintances with old friends from teacher training college. About 80 per cent of all primary teachers are female but the gender breakdown is about 50:50 at conference.

INTO folklore is littered with tales of marathon eight-hour ballad sessions as members roll out those old favourites from Christy Moore and The Eagles. And no one tends to retire for the night until the early morning.

One striking feature of INTO conferences in recent years is the relative youth of many delegates. The Abercrombie and iPod generation is well represented - although the house band still strays well clear of house and rap music.

Seán Flynn, Education Editorwill be reporting from Cork