The Department of Education and Science is going ahead with contingency plans to hold this year's State examinations without the co-operation of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland, if the union rejects Labour Court peace proposals .
The ballot is expected to be held between April 17th and 19th, and the result will not be known before the first week in May. Crucially, this is after the union's annual conference in Easter Week. While there is some concern at Government level that hardline elements may attempt to persuade the conference to reject the peace plan, the Department is relatively confident that the ASTI decision to "suspend non-co-operation" in the examinations will not be rescinded. Yesterday the Minister announced that the oral and practical examinations for the Leaving and Junior Certificates would "operate as normal" in the two-week period beginning on April 23rd.