A decision on whether teachers will receive their full benchmarking payments now seems unlikely before the end of next week at the earliest, after negotiations on the question of parent-teacher meetings were sent to arbitration yesterday.
This followed another lengthy day of meetings between Department of Education officials, school management representatives and teaching unions, which failed to produce agreement.
It is believed the Department of Education is insisting that parents who are unable to attend parent-teacher meetings be allowed to make an appointment with individual teachers at a time which is more convenient for them.
However, teachers would receive no extra payment for these meetings, other than those allowed for under the terms of the benchmarking process.
Sources believe the Department is seeking a situation whereby a teacher would be required to remain at a parent-teacher meeting until all parents have been seen. However, it is unclear whether this would entail that the meeting continue past the allotted hours.
Last night, Mr Jim Dorney, General Secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland, said: "Negotiations today on parent-teacher meetings reached an impasse and the facilitator withdrew. The matter is now being referred to the arbitration board, where the outcome will be considered."
The independent arbitrator's decision is binding. Arbitration will begin at the earliest possible opportunity next week.