An insider's guide to education.

So what was the big issue for academics out in IT Tallaght as they returned from the Christmas break yesterday? Benchmarking? Third-level reforms? Er, no. Would you believe a dastardly move by management to introduce pay and display parking and other traffic management measures.

Management are also moving to clamp offenders who park illegally because of "significant health and safety concerns".

The TUI is angry about the move and it has invoked the formal grievance procedure to resolve the issue.

Apparently, parking is also a big issue in Dundalk IT and in other third-level colleges where the high car ownership among students is putting the squeeze on old-fashioned privileges such as a free car-parking space.

Just one question - how come the Christmas break for academics at IT Tallaght only ended yesterday?

Are the gardaí the latest group to be dumbed down?

According to new Hetac statistics, an increasing number of candidates are scoring very high marks in their final Garda exams - now recognised as an ordinary-level degree.

In 2006, almost 35 per cent of candidates obtained a "distinction" - the highest award available - while a further 37 per cent obtained the next level of award, known as a "merit".

By comparison, just 8 per cent of Garda students obtained a "distinction" in 2005, while 13 per cent obtained this award in 2004.

It is all good news for new Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

The Garda say there is no question of dumbing down. The force is apparently attracting a higher calibre of entrant, including many who have already completed third-level degree programmes.

Is it just us - or was there a muted reaction to the benchmarking report from the teacher unions?

Yes, there is dark talk of tough battles ahead in the forthcoming pay negotiations . But is there a sense that everyone is going through the motions?

Primary school principals and their deputies were the only education group to emerge with some loot.

But who deserves the credit?

Expect a battle royal on the PR front between John Carr in the INTO and Seán Cottrell of the Irish Primary Principals' Network (IPPN).

One person who does deserve some credit is Father Dan O'Connor, the head of the Catholic school management group in primary schools. Apparently, his lobbying on behalf of the primary principals had a big impact on the benchmarking body.