Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Feb 2001

Vol. 529 No. 3

Priority Questions. - Teachers' Dispute.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

2 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science his response to requests for the establishment of a commission on teaching; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of the joint managerial body and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals for the future of teaching and the education system generally; if he will give a commitment to establish such a commission as part of any settlement of the ASTI dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/01]

Dr. Woods

This dispute is about a claim for an immediate 30% pay increase and the ASTI demand has been for a process to deal with that claim. A process, which involves the Labour Court examining the issues in the dispute, has now been agreed and I look forward to the proposals on pay which arise from this examination.

The Deputy will be aware that under the PPF a detailed examination and comparative analysis of the pay of teachers generally is already under way through the benchmarking system. In addition, I have made it clear that I would favour a commission on education and learning for life which would have a broad and supportive remit. I am developing proposals in this regard.

Ms Shortall

Is the Minister aware of the grave concerns which have been expressed by the JMB and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals about a number of issues affecting the education system which must be addressed as a matter of urgency? Both bodies recently made submissions to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science and their proposals for a forum or commission on teaching are in the public arena. These groups have sought to draw attention to important issues concerning the status of teaching, teacher morale, the implications of legislation, the under-funding of education, curriculum and assessment and the lack of management training. These are fundamental issues which need to be addressed.

These groups have expressed grave concern for the welfare of the education system unless these issues are dealt with urgently. They are concerned to ensure that any settlement to the current dispute does not centre solely on pay, but that there be some link between whatever mechanism is agreed and the broader issues which could be dealt with through a commission or forum. Does the Minister accept these points? Does he have in mind the broader remit for a commission on teaching?

Dr. Woods

My difficulty is that pay is a separate issue which must be dealt with immediately. To some extent that is why I could not confuse the two issues. I had to keep pay separate and deal with it. It became clear in the discussions that the issue of pay and the 30% was the main issue.

Ms Shortall

Has the Minister seen these submissions?

Dr. Woods

I know the views expressed and I am not disagreeing with the Deputy. I am saying that pay was a very specific issue and it was difficult to progress other matters while there was such a dispute over pay and the way in which it should be addressed.

I accept that the broader issues are very important. The Teaching Council Bill is envisaged as playing a major part in the profession and in recognising the professional dimension of teaching. Committee Stage of the Bill will soon commence and I look forward to progress in that regard.

Apart from the Teaching Council Bill, many other issues need to be addressed. We have not taken a broad look at education since the early 1960s. There have been many worthwhile recent developments in education which place an onus on us to institute a commission to look at the entire situation regarding education and learning generally.

Ms Shortall

Is the Minister aware that the principals' association recently stated that the statutory requirements cannot be met because of the under-resourcing of education? Is he also aware that the association stated that reports required annually will not be completed, curriculum delivery will deteriorate, teacher morale will collapse, student absenteeism and disaffection will soar and the system will be exposed to litigation on all sides? That is a fairly damning prediction of what principals feel is likely to happen to the education system unless these issues are dealt with immediately.

The Minister has not indicated that he has grasped the seriousness of the problem and the urgency others attach to the need to set up a commission. He said he is well-disposed towards the idea of a commission or forum. Has he a timescale in mind for setting of the commission and what will be its terms of reference?

Dr. Woods

I am urgently developing proposals in this regard. I envisage a very shorttime scale. I do not want to tie it down to a particular number of days—

Ms Shortall

Can the Minister give a rough estimate?

Dr. Woods

Within a month. The timescale is immediate. There are many issues to be addressed in education. However, there has been a 45% increase in funding for education which has allowed an enormous amount of development. We will continue with that development to ensure it is as effective as possible. We will take heed of what the principals have said.