Vol. 529 No. 1
1144 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the basis on which he has decided to reduce teachers' pay for days lost during the ongoing teachers' dispute at secondary level; the way in which he can determine those teachers who fall within this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1063/01]
1162 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review his decision to dock five days pay from teachers in secondary schools in view of the fact that a number of teachers affected were in fact attending in-service training or parent/teacher meetings or did not have supervision responsibilities on the days for which pay has been stopped; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that legal action is being contemplated by teachers to challenge his decision. [1210/01]
1201 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason deductions were made from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare even though the teacher had worked on the work-to-rule days of the ASTI dispute; and when will payment for these days issue to him. [1738/01]
1218 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the Government was entitled to deduct pay from teachers in respect of the days when they withdrew supervision of second level classes; if the relevant board of management is the employer, if so, if the board of management should have sanctioned the deduction; if the Department misused information on trade union memberships; and if a penalty was deducted from those who were sick. [1906/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1144, 1162, 1201 and 1218 together.
The action of ASTI in withdrawing from supervision and refusing to substitute for absent colleagues had the direct result of schools not being able to operate and the cancellation of classes. In the circumstances, the Government decided that payment should not be made for those days of action when the schools concerned could not operate normally. Deductions were made in respect of three of those days in the salary payments which were received by teachers on 21 December 2000. Subsequent to these deductions being processed, the leadership of ASTI agreed to enter a talks process and the Government agreed, at the facilitator's request, to suspend further deductions and refund the three days deducted. As Deputies will know, ASTI withdrew from these talks.
My Department was notified on 21 December by solicitors representing the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland that they had been instructed to seek a judicial review of the decision to deduct pay from members of ASTI in respect of the days of action. I confirm that, as a gesture of goodwill on the part of the Government, the salary which was deducted from ASTI members in December in respect of the three days of action was refunded to all teachers concerned on 25 January.
I am pleased that agreement has now been reached with ASTI that both parties will request the Labour Court, acting on an ad hoc basis, to consider the dispute and to make recommendations for the resolution of the dispute. In all the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any matters in relation to the dispute at this time.
