Relations between the ASTI and the Government are at an all-time low after that surprise decision not to put the supervision package out to a ballot. Charlie McCreevy, whose officials helped to frame the £27 per hour deal, is said to be furious with the union and anxious to give them a bit of stick.

McCreevy's view is that the ASTI is now controlled by militants who must be brought to heel.

Last year, McCreevy told everyone who would listen he would not allow ASTI to wreck the national pay deal. This year, with the economy about to tip into recession, he is in no mood to up the £27 per hour - even if the mandarins in education are a little more flexible.

McCreevy believes he has the public on his side; he is in the mood to teach ASTI (another) harsh lesson - election or no election.

Given the puny level of real debate on education issues, one might expect the Dβil chamber to take the lead in setting the agenda. Think again. This month's questions to the Minister for Education are dominated by the usual parish-pump trivia.

TP's favourite is one from John Perry, the Fine Gael deputy for Sligo-Leitrim, who is concerned about the non-availability of hand-driers in a local school.

There are scores of questions in a similar vein from all parties.

This might all be harmless fun but for the fact that hard-pressed officials in the under-staffed Department of Education must spend days chasing up these queries. Isn't it time to stop this madness?

What are we to make of those no-confidence motions against the ASTI leadership? Three branches have already tabled motions against the leadership of general secretary Charlie Lennon and president Catherine Fitzpatrick. Other branches are being told at the various information meetings now under way that something must be done about the leadership.

There is in all of this the sound of unfinished business. Some hard-line members are blaming every one but themselves for the disastrous pay campaign - Lennon and Fitzpatrick are easy targets.

Lennon's patience with his unhappy band of militants is wearing very, very thin at this stage. But, with the air of a man who has seen it all before, he seems remarkably unfazed.

And why not? Joe O'Toole has survived more no-confidence motions than Charlie Haughey and lived to tell the tale.

Here's a prediction: militants to let off some steam; Lennon to carry on regardless - if he can continue to put up with all this attrition.

Got any education gossip? You can e-mail Teacher's Pet in confidence at teacherspet@irish-times.ie