If the secondary teachers' strike resumes, exam students can expect delays in the issuing of their results, the Minister for Education has warned.
The Leaving Cert results, which normally come out in mid-August, would experience "minimal delays", Dr Woods said, but Junior Cert results which normally issue in mid-September could be delayed by up to a month.
The delays are likely if the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) refuses to mark exam scripts this summer, Dr Woods indicated in the Da il yesterday. The Minister will face a major shortage of examiners if the ASTI takes this step. The shortage would slow the marking process and make it difficult to get results compiled within the normal time.
Dr Woods's options for getting exam papers marked this summer are limited if the ASTI pulls out. The Teachers' Union of Ireland already has said it will not mark papers normally done by ASTI members, and the group representing retired teachers has ruled out its members filling the gaps.
The other options are third-level students or academics. The ASTI already has signalled that it may call upon academics not to mark papers, and parents are likely to be furious if third-level students are used.
A Labour Court hearing on the ASTI's 30 per cent pay claim is expected on Wednesday. While the union has set a deadline of Monday for the Labour Court proceedings to begin, the extra two days are not expected to be a problem, sources said yesterday.
The Government and the union are expected to make submissions on the same day. The Labour Court officials will then reserve their decision.