asked the Minister for Education if teachers at Dublin VEC third-level colleges have decided to ban work on examinations this summer; and the steps he is taking to resolve the matter.
22.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Examination Work Ban.
21.
asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the setting of examination papers in the colleges which are known collectively as the Dublin Institute of Technology; and if he is aware of the contractual functions of academic staff regarding the setting of its examination papers.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle. I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland, which is the recognised teacher organisation for the representation of the views of teachers in the third-level colleges administered by vocational education committees, has not informed me of a decision by teachers as mentioned in the question from the Deputy.
Is the Minister not aware of the fact that there is another grouping of teachers in the colleges concerned and is he totally unaware, in any shape or form, of action which is being threatened by these teachers in relation to the examinations? Is he not proposing to do anything about it if the examinations are, in fact, held up by industrial action, whether official or unofficial?
The Teachers' Union of Ireland is the union which is ensuring the rights of these teachers. It is with this union that I deal and with it that I am negotiating.
Is the Minister not aware of the letter — which I have seen — from the group of academic staff which they sent to the Minister informing him about the ban on the setting of examination papers and taking of examinations by those people? Surely the Minister is not now going to put the examinations at risk in those colleges by his supposed lack of knowledge of the situation?
I would like to tell the House that all I am aware of is that I deal and negotiate with the Teachers' Union of Ireland with regard to the pay and conditions of those teachers and I am continuing to do so. As I indicated to the House earlier on, a case with regard to salaries and conditions came before the Conciliation Council. Disagreement was recorded and the matter is now before the Arbitration Council.
Finally, without prejudice to anything which the Minister said about the Teachers' Union of Ireland, has the Minister or his Department received any information from teachers who are not members of this Teachers' Union of Ireland of any action which they propose to take and, if so, what does he propose now to do about it?
The Department of Education are dealing, as I said, with the Teachers' Union of Ireland. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions also support this line of action. I have no further comment to make.
Will the Minister have any comment to make if chaos comes about in those colleges?