Meetings of teachers' unions starting today will discuss issues that threaten to bring industrial action to schools for a second year.
With the autumn school term starting next week, the row over payments for supervision and substitution, and the benchmarking report on pay will be discussed in separate meetings held by the three main teacher unions.
The ASTI's standing committee begins a two-day meeting today with The Irish Timesreporting this morning that the secondary teachers' union is likely to call a special convention to consider the supervision dispute, raising hopes that schools will function normally next week.
It is thought the committee will start a new consultation process with members that will bring about a special convention, probably next month.
Department of Education officials will meet members of the INTO and the TUI today and tomorrow to discuss how supervision payments of €37 per hour will be made pensionable. ASTI will not be part of the talks because its ban on supervision and substitution is continuing.
The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, yesterday said he was willing to meet ASTI officials but said the union’s claim must be dealt within broader Government policy.