Last week, Teachers’ Union of Ireland members at Coláiste Chairáin, Croom, unanimously voted in favour of action up to and including strike.

The staff have been in dispute with the school’s high-profile principal, Noel Malone. They had raised grievances related to management and operation of the school.

The school was closed last Thursday following damage done by Storm Darwin, but teachers were still able to hold their ballot and all members backed the motion. The TUI confirmed the motion has now been considered by its executive and the action has been approved.

“This issue of a dispute in a Limerick school came before union’s executive committee last Friday, where a proposal for industrial action was approved following a ballot of members in the school,” said a TUI spokesperson.

“As with any such workplace dispute, the union will continue to seek resolution of the matter through the established industrial relations mechanisms and will not be making any further comment at this time.”

Disputes between Mr Malone and staff have been ongoing for some time. Last year, two cases taken by TUI members, on the grounds of alleged bullying and harassment, went all the way to the Labour Relations Commission where they were unsuccessful.

It is not yet known what form the proposed action by TUI members will take as the school is currently closed for midterm.

Mr Malone gained national prominence last year when he suspended 28 pupils for two days for alleged cyberbullying, after they ‘liked’ a harmful Facebook post about a teacher.

Neither Mr Malone nor the Limerick Education and Training Board have commented on the result of the vote.