The archbishops of Dublin have taken the unusual step of issuing a joint statement on the ASTI dispute. In the statement, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell, and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, "urge both parties to take this opportunity to seek a solution to the present crisis".
Senior church sources said the issuing of a joint statement should be taken as a sign of deep concern about the disruption to schools.
The sources said there had been much worry in the churches over the dispute, especially as the churches' long association with schools and education meant they had "a special relationship with the teaching profession".
The statement read: "We are encouraged by the announcement of new talks involving parties in the current dispute. In exercising our pastoral concern we urge both parties to take this opportunity to seek a solution to the present crisis which is acceptable to both sides.
"We have a deep concern for the students preparing for examinations and for their parents. Our concern is also for the members of the teaching profession who have such an important and ongoing role in the lives of their students.
"We welcome the willingness of the Taoiseach, the Minister and the ASTI to facilitate the clarification process and we appeal to both parties to do everything possible to secure a settlement in the interest of the examination students and the future of the teaching profession".