Talks aimed at resolving the long-running supervision and substitution dispute between the ASTI, the Department of Education and school managers have ended this morning without agreement.
The Associated Secondary Teacher of Ireland (ASTI) trade union's standing committee last week rejected interpretations by school managers and the Department of Education in relation to the supervision and substitution scheme to be operated in schools.
Within a few minutes of this morning's meeting the ASTI representatives withdrew from the meeting when Department of Education and Science officials indicated they were not prepared to consider any interpretations other than their own.
The ASTI Standing Committee will meet shortly to consider what action to take.
Last week the union instructed its members not to commence the scheme until various issues were clarified. It is believed the issues dividing the two sides are minor and technical in nature and it was expected they could be resolved.
There is also little chance of disruption to schools as non-teachers will provide the supervision and substitution service in the short term and schools will be kept open.