Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am acutely aware of the difficulties faced by all public servants, including teachers, regarding the necessary measures the Government has been obliged to introduce. However, these measures must to be viewed against the backdrop of the Government's efforts to recover from the serious financial and budgetary situation that continues to face this country and to restore stability to the public finances. The context of the Haddington Road agreement was the need to address the major and unprecedented financial difficulties facing the State. At this stage, all public service unions, with the exception of the ASTI, have accepted the terms of this agreement, that is, approximately 300,000 workers.

The current position is that ASTI members have not accepted the agreement and are not operating the changes to the supervision and substitution scheme provided for in the agreement that the other two teacher unions are operating. Given that situation, I have indicated, as has my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, that the continued payment of the supervision and substitution allowance to ASTI members is unsustainable. The Government has provided time and space for the recent discussions between officials from my Department and the ASTI in a final effort to resolve this issue and it is now a matter for the membership of the ASTI to make its decision on the outcome of those discussions. However, I would be less than frank if I did not make the point to Members that the payment of the supervision and substitution allowance cannot be continued.

It is now a matter for the membership of the union to make its decision regarding the outcomes of those discussions. I wish to take this opportunity to restate the significant benefits that will accrue to ASTI members if they accept the Haddington Road agreement and will outline them for the benefit of the House. First, there will be improved levels of payment for newly qualified teachers. Second, there will be a review of the usage of the 33 additional hours required by teachers under the Croke Park agreement negotiated earlier. Third, a firm timetable will be provided on the establishment of an expert group to examine casualisation in the teaching profession, particularly at second level. The fourth benefit will be the introduction of additional assistant principal posts to support the management of schools. This is what is on the table for those members who I understand will be voting from 1 December until approximately 15 December. I welcome that the ASTI have agreed to re-ballot its members on the Haddington Road agreement and I hope those members will accept the benefits of the agreement.

See this speech in context