The mediator in the teachers' dispute is preparing new proposals, but it may take several days before they are put before the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI).
Mr Tom Pomphrett of the Labour Relations Commission is working on several new ideas, but they are unlikely to be ready for this Friday's meeting of the ASTI standing committee.
The proposals are understood to deal with, among other contentious points, the docking of teachers' pay for work-to-rule action in November.
It is understood the earliest the proposals may be tabled is the middle of next week. The Cabinet, which agreed to dock teachers' pay for their work-to-rule days, is not due to meet again until Tuesday. There is no certainty that any new proposals will be accepted by the ASTI standing committee, which includes a group who voted against the last proposal from Mr Pomphrett. Its 180member central executive committee also rejected by a large majority the compromise proposal 10 days ago.
It is understood Mr Pomphrett has been in contact with officials from the departments of education and finance and representatives of the other teacher unions. The unions want his proposals to address not just the docked money issue but also wider concerns among teachers.
Their leaders believe this is the best way to break the impasse, although it is understood Mr Pomphrett has ruled out setting up a commission on teaching.
In an Irish Times article yesterday, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, wrote that the docked money could be refunded "without prejudice to the position of either side". But the Government will not accept, as ASTI maintains, that it was wrong to deduct the money.
On Today FM's The Last Word yesterday, the Minister for Education, Dr Woods, signalled that the docking of pay issue could be put to one side, leaving Mr Pomphrett to concentrate on the union's demand for a 30 per cent pay increase.
He said the docked money was "ready to go out" to teachers if they grasped the opportunity to re-enter the talks process.
Mr Ahern's article prompted a strong response from ASTI general secretary, Mr Charlie Lennon. Writing in The Irish Times today he says docking the money "shattered their (union members) confidence in the Government's commitment to resolve the dispute in a fair and reasonable manner.
"To restore the faith of ASTI members in the Government's commitment to resolve this dispute, what is required is the repayment of the money deducted as soon as possible, without preconditions and without prejudice," he adds.
After closing most secondary schools in Dublin yesterday, ASTI's rolling campaign of strike action will affect Leinster today and Munster tomorrow. The union is also planning to ban exam work from February 3rd.