Vol. 535 No. 2
71 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will elaborate on the Government's letter, the text of which was published, to the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8760/01]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the Taoiseach's letter to ASTI on 22 March 2001 which confirmed that the Government was prepared to participate in any talks convened by the Labour Court to clarify its recommendation and its implementation in line with the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
Talks were reconvened by the Labour Court under the chairmanship of Mr. Finbarr Flood on 25 March 2001. Officials from my Department and the Department of Finance attended the discussions following which the Labour Court clarified various aspects of its recommendation in relation to benchmarking, supervision and substitution and the review body on non-pay aspects of education.
The court also recommended that appropriate arrangements be made to ensure the current year's school programmes are completed for all students, so that students affected by the dispute are not put at a disadvantage vis-à-vis other students. Teachers involved in the dispute, who are certified by the school as having contributed to the completion of the school programme, would be paid a sum of £1,750, with appropriate pro rata payments for part-time teachers.
The ASTI decided to ballot all ASTI members on the Labour Court clarification of its recommendation. That ballot is currently taking place.
