Ms Moira Leydon:

Further to Ms McCafferty's point that we really should not lose focus on quality teaching, what precipitated the angst and this movement of concern was that teachers now would be required to engage in bureaucratic compliance with medicalised type assessments of pupils, as Mr. Kelly referred to earlier, instead of engaging in what they are best at, which is the classroom teaching. That is where they are instinctively and professionally doing the differentiating and their plans. Teachers must have term plans and annual plans for each class group and each year. Planning is being done but I believe the expectation of the model of planning now required of schools has precipitated these concerns. This is what trade unions do. We must listen to our members' concerns and must be able to seek to advance them. Giving the advice was the first step. What is the next step? This has been a very productive meeting. We have all listened to one another. I put it to Senator Dolan that the worst-case scenario is nil nil. That would be a cop out on both sides. We now need to work together. The ASTI has written to the Department of Education and Skills to seek a meeting to look at the issues we want addressed.

These issues cover the co-ordination time, the planning time, the allowance, which is a very significant issue, and also the whole area of a revised planning model. We are seeking to advance it but I believe we are now coming into the last tranche of the school year and it behoves all of us in the system to address it. I am sure Mr. Ward will take this back to his colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills. We need to get this sorted out this year. I refer to the school year. We cannot be in the business of going back into schools in September with this simmering nil-nil status still there. It is not acceptable.