SECONDARY school managers have suggested the Government should drop its "insulting" demand for longer working hours from teachers in new talks with the teacher unions.

Delegates at the Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools (AMCSS) also suggested the withdrawal of the Department of Education's controversial Time in School circular, and a more generous early retirement offer for teachers.

Preliminary talks following the rejection of the offer last month by second level teachers have just begun, but early progress is not expected.

The Minister for Education has said no more money is available, and that she is not prepared to dilute the productivity requirements in the package.

However, Brother Declan Duffy, general secretary of the AMCSS, said his members felt that the proposal for an extra 15 hours of work from teachers was so "flawed" and "insulting" that it would be better not to introduce it at all.

The AMCSS, which over whelmingly supported the £66.7 million pay deal, debated its attitude to the impasse in private session at its annual conference in Galway yesterday.

Afterwards, Brother Duffy there was "no question" of management agreeing to a new which did not propose adequate middle management scheme. This would include promotion on the basis of suitability (or merit), rather than seniority.

The Time in School circular which aimed to stamp out unauthorised school closures had served no useful purpose.

"It has soured negotiations and will continue to do so", he said. However, the Department had the right to insist on the length of the minimum school year and day.

The widespread curricular change already implemented in schools constituted a greater level of productivity than that sought by the Government as a quid pro quo for its pay offer, he suggested.

Delegates also called for changes in the early retirement provisions which would allow teachers suffering stress to retire without the stigma of being labelled incompetent.