Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

First, I acknowledge the support of Fianna Fáil for reform, as well as that of practically every partner in education. I note that fewer than 40% of ASTI members have rejected it but apart from that, everybody else in the education sector is in support. I am not by any means abandoning reform but as I told the Deputy, the Department is writing to all schools and will begin CPD in the first week in November. It will start with the ETB schools because members of the TUI will come to training and CPD. I am leaving some space in order to be able to give clarification to the ASTI, if it requires it. However, to be clear, the Department is rolling it out and I expect it will go in accordance with the plans that already have been indicated with regard to subjects moving from English onwards. Moreover, it is not true to state that somehow or other, I did not engage with teachers. I had detailed negotiations on which the leadership of the ASTI signed off, after which its members, by a small majority obviously rejected it. However, that will not stop us.

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