Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding trade union membership of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25471/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Decisions in respect of union membership are matters for the individual teacher concerned and my Department does not have a position on this issue.  Issues of eligibility for membership of a particular union should be addressed to that union.

The current position is that the Lansdowne Road Agreement as set out in Section 2 of Circular 0045/2016 applies to teachers employed in Education and Training Board schools and centres (apart from Designated Community Colleges). The Agreement also applies to teachers employed in Designated Community Colleges, Community and Comprehensive Schools and Voluntary Secondary Schools who are TUI members. The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2013 and 2015 as set out in Section 3 of the Circular applies to all other teachers employed in such schools.  The circular is available on my Department’s website and can be accessed at:

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As is the norm with public service collective agreements, the Lansdowne Road Agreement was negotiated with trade unions which are recognised as representing staff in the public service (including teachers). It is normal practice in the public service that the decision of the trade union recognised as holding representative rights for a particular grade or sector will determine the position for all relevant staff in that grade/sector. This context does not allow for acceptance or rejection of collective agreements by staff on an individual basis.

Accordingly, there is no proposal at this time to treat teachers separately based on the fact that they are not a member of a trade union.  However, since the announcement of the ASTI ballot result my Department has received a number of queries from both ASTI members and teachers who are not members of a trade union about union membership.  Therefore, having regard to the circumstances of the dispute with the ASTI, this is an issue that I will keep under review going forward.