Vol. 550 No. 2
553 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will negotiate with the ASTI to try and avert their withdrawal of the provision for substitution and supervision; and if he will intervene immediately to try and resolve this dispute. [7515/02]
I met the three teacher unions last week on 28 February 2002. I indicated that the Government is not opposed to the pensionability of supervision payments. In that regard I offered to enter into a process at the end of the current school year to work out the details of an arrangement which would be consistent with the requirements for pensionability. I also indicated that the procedures provided by the conciliation and arbitration scheme for teachers should be used to deal with the issue of an appropriate payment rate for supervision. These procedures include independent arbitration where the parties cannot agree.
My approach was welcomed by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation and the Teachers' Union of Ireland but rejected by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland. The ASTI central executive have since decided not to enter into any further negotiations on this matter pending the settlement of their pay claim.
