More than 40,000 teachers look set to get a 9.5 per cent pay increase, due to them as part of the benchmarking process, following an agreement late last night over the controversial issue of parent-teacher meetings.
It is understood the Department of Education made a significant concession over the timing of parent-teacher meetings in post-primary schools.
It is believed the Department is no longer demanding that teachers must strictly remain at parent- teacher meetings until 7.30 p.m to see any remaining parents.
Instead the Department is now willing to accept that if teachers remain on the school premises until 6.45 p.m, they will be meeting their requirements.
It is thought however that teachers - on an informal basis - will see any parents who remain after this time.
While the Department appears to have softened its stance, some teachers' leaders pointed out that the unions have also agreed to hold parent-teacher meetings outside school hours. This had been resisted traditionally by many teachers.
However, agreement still needs to be reached in relation to primary schools, although sources were optimistic this could be achieved today.
Following exhaustive arbitration talks in Dublin between school managers, teachers' unions and Department of Education officials, the parties last night signalled that a breakthrough had been achieved.
A statement released on behalf of all sides late last night said arbitration would resume today.
It said: "Agreement was reached in regard to the post-primary sector on foot of proposals from the arbitration board. However, the parties acknowledged that they could not record a final agreement until there was an agreement in respect of the primary sector, or an arbitration board adjudication in respect of that sector."
But some issues remain to be resolved, including the contentious one of schools closing on days not authorised by the Department. This remains a stumbling block, said sources, but there was a determination among all sides to address this issue.
Late last week the ASTI strongly criticised the Department's stance on the issue of the benchmarking payments.
A statement said: "The ASTI, in response to the anger of members, deplores the failure of the Minister for Education to pay teachers, on the due date, the money owed under sustaining Progress.
At a weekend meeting of ASTI's central executive, widespread anger was also expressed. This culminated in a motion which called for the ending of co-operation with Sustaining Progress.
This resulted in speculation in some quarters that ASTI might take industrial action, although this was played down by the union's leaders.
Meanwhile, only a small number of schools are understood to feature in a list compiled by the Department of Education in relation to the standardisation of the school year.
The Department's inspectors visited schools before Christmas on December 23rd to ensure they were open on that day.
The list is due to be presented at a meeting of the teacher's conciliation council today. This body, chaired by Mr Tom Pomphrett, handles industrial relations issues between the Department and teachers.
The Department previously warned that schools who closed early could face sanctions, including some teachers losing their benchmarking payments.
The schools that closed early are likely to argue that certain exemptions in the agreement on the common school year allowed them to remain closed.
These exemptions allow special concessions for minority religions, boarding schools and some other schools.