'It's become a lock-out,' say teachers

Teachers outside the padlocked gates of Coláiste Choilm in Swords, Co Dublin. Picture: Steve Humphreys

Teachers say they have been locked out after they turned up in time for class outside of school grounds.

Sinéad Farrell, an English and special needs teacher at Coláiste Choilm boys school in Swords, Co Dublin, said teachers were "disheartened" having turned up to teach.

"We're ready to work and the gates aren't open, so it's essentially a lock-out," she said.

"Teachers don't want to be standing outside their school with a lock on their gate, but this is what we are reduced to now, this is what we have to do."

Her colleague Joan Parsons - an English and religion teacher - said: "We'd all rather be inside.

"Every single one of us would rather be in school than standing out here."

At Loreto College in Dublin, Deirdre Scully, who teaches English and drama, said her colleagues were "very unhappy" at the situation.

Irish Independent