In the course of a wide-ranging interview, Minister for Education Noel Dempsey also addressed several other issues. The following are highlights of what he had to say

On the morale of teachers:
"On a recent visit to Killarney two ladies came up to me and introduced themselves as 'AFT's' and asked me did I know what that is? It means 'Another F***ing Teacher'. I tell the story to illustrate the point. I think it is an awful shame that the status of teachers has been reduced... it is very bad for the education system and bad for society. When we reach the end of this dispute, I think it will be necessary to look at the broader issues of teaching and education."

On ASTI

"Things have changed since the teachers were on the picket line. I think it is true to say that they have shot all their big guns and they have not advanced their case for a pay rise outside the PPF. Teachers have done better from benchmarking than most others. I am sure the benchmarking body were influenced by the arguments put forward by ASTI. I think there is a realisation within the ASTI that it is time to bring this dispute to an end."

On the fall-off in applications for computer courses:

"What we are experiencing is a temporary downturn. It is up to the computer industry itself to be more active in promoting a career in IT. It should not all be down to the Department of Education."

On the closure of schools for parent/teacher meetings and in-service training.

"Our children spend as much time in schools as most other countries. But anything which erodes the school year and removes class contact needs to be looked at. There is an opportunity there in the context of benchmarking to look at these things. Seventy-five per cent of the money under benchmarking is contingent on co-operation with modernisation."

On the recent education cutbacks, which appeared to target the disadvantaged:

"This was a classic case of not allowing the facts to get in the way of a good story. There is no cut to the disadvantaged groups. The only reason that money was taken from a programme designed to widen third-level access was because it was not spent. The scheme did not get up and running as soon as we anticipated. We thought nearly 7,000 students would avail of it, but only 3,000 did. That is why I increased the thresholds and expanded it to try and get it up to 7,000."