Students in Carlow IT have met with local TUI representatives and managers at their college to urge "a speedy resolution" to a dispute which they fear could affect their exam preparation.

TUI members are refusing to work overtime in a dispute over the status of a part-time lecturer.

Students' union president DJ Moore fears significant disruption in the run up to the exams, which start in less than six weeks.

"Students are in danger of missing classes because of this action at a time when many are still trying to catch up on the work missed during the temporary building crisis earlier in the year.

"College have dragged their feet on this issue and it would cost them bugger-all to sort it out. However, I don't want to take sides on this issue - I'm just worried about how it's affecting students."

Moore says the dispute has already affected business and secretarial students on the Kilkenny campus, who have not had maths classes for several weeks. "We are also concerned about the possibility of the dispute escalating to possibly affect exams. The college will have to reach an accommodation with the TUI."

Earlier this year, classes in Carlow were severely disrupted when a temporary building was closed because the college authorities failed to apply for fire clearance before it opened.

Meanwhile, second-year civil engineering student Clifford T Reid has been elected incoming president of Carlow's students' union. Alan Proctor, Darren Keating and Jill Heatley were elected vice-president, societies officer and sports officer respectively.