Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the efforts that are being made to resolve the on-going industrial relations dispute with the ASTI; if he will provide assurances that his Department’s focus will be on reaching a fair settlement with the ASTI and to resolve the outstanding issues that have arisen from the Haddington Road Agreement; and if he will acknowledge that teachers are being increasingly overwhelmed by new initiatives that are being implemented at a time when schools are enduring unsustainable cutbacks in resources and services. [50548/13]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister is aware, the ASTI's executive council will recommend to its members the rejection of the recent outcome of the discussions between the union and the Department of Education and Skills. The Minister may not wish to comment on this issue in advance, which I can understand, but the second part of my question again pertains to junior cycle reform. Does the Minister recognise that serious concerns have been expressed by teachers, which must be taken on board and which must be addressed in the best interests of students?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister and note he has made much of the issue of substitution and supervision. As he noted, the union members themselves will decide the outcome in this regard. However, the Minister must also see this issue in the context of the bigger picture, in which implementing junior cycle reform is being discussed. The Minister is aware that Sinn Féin is very supportive of what is proposed by the Department but teachers have real concerns in this regard. They believe themselves to be advocates for students and do not wish to be judge and jury either. This is the reason an issue has arisen in respect of the State examination and how to move to the new model. As the Minister himself stated in response to Deputy McConalogue, we are starting a journey and will take that journey together. However, one cannot start a journey on the wrong foot either and one must consider the current position in post-primary schools.

A number of initiatives have been introduced since the Minister came into office, some of which were highly progressive, such as anti-bullying procedures, new mental health guidelines and transfer options for first-year students. However, one must also consider the additional workload these initiatives placed on teachers and compare that with the cutbacks that have been taking place in the education sector.

The teaching profession is very demoralised. Cutbacks are affecting front line services and additional initiatives and responsibilities are being placed on the teaching profession while at the same we are trying to transform the junior certificate by means of reform of the junior cycle. Many teachers are worried that the necessary resources and training are not being put in place to enable them to carry out this reform.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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We have started on a journey. There has to be agreement about who will set the destination and I have set it, based on the advice I received. I take the political responsibility for that decision. As I said in Wexford, the best way to get to that destination, the best route and the speed at which we should travel, is open for discussion. Based on today's timetable, the final journey will not be complete until we reach the cohort of students who will be in third year in 2020. Nobody could say this is a rash or precipitous implementation of a policy. It is my hope that long before we get to 2020 we will see the continued recovery of the Irish economy. There is further evidence today of a further drop in unemployment and increased economic growth. It is my hope that this will provide the extra resources which will be needed as we progress with the other subjects. I have listened to the concerns of teachers in the first instance about being asked to assess their own students in a formal examination to replace the junior certificate. As I said in reply to Deputy McConalogue, that is why the State Examinations Commission will be in place for a period of time to ensure that in Irish, English and mathematics, both the examination and the marking will be done by the State Examinations Commission. We are listening to what I agree are the legitimate concerns of teachers. We will provide more resources as they become available. I am confident we can do that constructively.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I refer to the working group set up to examine the issue of junior cycle reform. On 12 November 2013, the Minister wrote to the ASTI general secretary, Mr. Pat King, about the establishment of this working group. I believe the working group will consist of representatives of the unions, school management, the Department and the NCCA. I am open to correction but I understand an initial meeting has taken place. How long will the group be in place and will it deal with all the issues which have been raised. Junior cycle reform is beginning next September and teachers are not prepared for it. In a recent ASTI survey, 50 schools reported that with the current level of resources at their disposal, they do not think they are sufficiently equipped to roll out the junior cycle reform. Teachers have said they are not opposed to this reform and every Member of the House has welcomed it. We have to meet in agreement at some point.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I respect the profession of teaching and when teachers express concerns I listen to those concerns. However, we are talking about a cohort starting in first year on one subject next September. Resources are already available to facilitate and assist this. The big change is not in the teaching of English in the manner it is currently taught but rather the difference is in a combination of project work which will account for 40% of a student's total result at the end of third year. Exam-based papers will account for 60% which will be set and marked by the State Examinations Commission. The change we are discussing will not take place for another ten or 11 months and it will be confined to one subject in first year with a different form of moderation in 2017.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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What about the working group?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The working group is part and parcel of the clarification that the ASTI sought after the Haddington Road agreement was rejected. It is one of four items we have identified as being clear from the point of view of ASTI members and what will be a benefit for them if they vote for the Haddington Road agreement. The ASTI is in a formal dispute with us at the moment and the working group will not meet until the current difficulties are resolved.

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Does this mean the working group will not meet?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I understand it has been agreed in principle to establish it but I will confirm that for the Deputy.

To the best of my knowledge a formal meeting of it has not taken place and probably will not take place until this current issue is resolved.