Industrial action is being taken by members of the Public Service Executive Union in my Department. This action involves members of that union refusing to carry out work related to vacant posts and to co-operate with any new work or scheme which they deem to require additional resources.
Industrial action of this nature has the effect of slowing the flow of work to a greater or lesser extent. In the Athlone offices the principal effect has been delay in the completion of administrative processes relating to the leaving certificate applied programme.
Student achievement and performance in the leaving certificate applied is recorded in three modes; performance in final examinations, satisfactory completion of modules and performance of task work. Assessment of task work takes place at the end of each session and is undertaken by visiting examiners appointed by my Department. The examiners assess the tasks produced by the students and also interview the students regarding the processes involved. The assessment scheduled for the week commencing 3 February 1997, following the September/January session, has been postponed due to the industrial action.
A letter notifying schools and examiners of the postponement was issued to school principals and examiners on 29 January 1997. I very much regret the disruption which the necessary postponement of the assessment has caused to schools, students and examiners. Every consideration will be given to candidates to ensure that they will not be adversely affected by this postponement.
I am very conscious of the need to resolve these industrial relations problems. Every effort is being made by my Department to that end. I hope that a satisfactory outcome will be arrived at very quickly.