Dáil debates

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

2:55 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with the teaching unions with a view to resolution of any outstanding issue relative to the junior certificate examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8824/15]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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My question seeks to ascertain the extent to which the Minister is engaged in ongoing dialogue with the teaching unions with a view to resolution of the dispute on the junior cycle and whether she expects progress to be made.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The full text of Dr. Travers's proposal document is available on my Department's website. Both sides were asked to confirm whether they accepted or rejected it as a basis for agreement. While the proposal put forward by Dr. Travers requires significant further compromise on my part, I have indicated to him that I am prepared to accept it as a basis for agreement. In doing so I acknowledged his considerable effort to achieve a fair and reasonable compromise since he was nominated for the role of independent chair by the two unions. Under the proposal, teachers are no longer asked to assess their own students for the purposes of State certification. This is a very significant measure in addressing a previous core union concern.

In not suspending their industrial action the unions have rejected the Travers proposal. I deeply regret this decision. The effect of their ongoing action is to seek to prevent teachers from participating in the continuing professional development available to give them the knowledge and support they need to do their jobs. I also regret that the unions have taken this decision without balloting their wider members on what is substantially a new proposal. No one group can be allowed to exercise a veto on educational reform. I intend to proceed with implementation of junior cycle reform based on the Travers proposal and will be working with wider education partners in so doing. I remain open to the unions revising their decision.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I congratulate the Minister, the teaching unions and Dr. Travers on the progress and successes achieved thus far. In the Minister's opinion, has sufficient progress been made to ensure the forthcoming examinations will be unaffected by the dispute? Does she expect the educational year to proceed without interruption and does she consider it is likely to be possible to achieve results given the outstanding differences?

3:05 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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With regard to this year's exams I welcome the fact that the unions have not set any further dates for strike action but they have not suspended their industrial action and therefore, we cannot be certain. However, it is my strong hope they will not proceed with any further action and that there will be no disruption this year. The unions will recognise that we are very close to the exams and it would be very important not to disrupt the schools.

I refer to the procedures for the new junior cycle proposals. English is the first subject and the new proposal commenced last September. Therefore, it will be more than a year before any school-based assessments are expected to be undertaken. Within that time period we should be able to address the issues around assessment. In the meantime the teachers have commenced implementation of the reforms in the classroom. Continuing professional development is available for teachers and I hope they will engage in that offer because it is designed to assist them.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her further extensive reply. Will a deadline be set for achieving targets on the remaining issues? If so, is a deadline helpful or unhelpful? In her view, will such targets will be met?

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My door is open whenever the teacher unions want to reconsider Dr. Travers's proposals. I will be happy to engage with them but, as of now, I have an obligation to proceed with the reforms.