Vol. 484 No. 3
353 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to meet with the Public Service Executive Union regarding the crisis in the teacher's pay and pensions sections within his Department; the reason these problems have not been addressed to date; and the proposals, if any, he has to resolve the problem. [21916/97]
I have been in correspondence with the Public Service Executive Union and agreed to meet with it to discuss its concerns regarding the staffing situation in my Department's Athlone office. I expect the meeting to take place early in the new year. The difficulties are primarily due to the exceptionally heavy workload which has emanated from the implementation of the agreement on pay and conditions of teachers under the PCW. Some of these difficulties have been resolved and the remainder are being addressed as a matter of priority.
