The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) met Government representatives this afternoon to discuss proposals for lunchtime supervision.
The meeting, which was being held under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council, heard payment requests from the TUI and INTO to supervise lunchtime break which has been voluntary up to now.
Mr Gerry Fitzpatrick, spokesman for the TUI told ireland.comthe Government currently pays hourly part-timers £20 per hour and is in the process of increasing this fee to £30 per hour under an EU directive governing such employment.
He added the TUI and INTO expect to be paid in line with this rate, but today's meeting was purely an opportunity for the two unions to forward their proposals to the Government.
Mr Fitzpatrick said the Labour Court is anxious to finalise a deal and a decision on the matter is expected before the school summer holidays.
Today's meeting was due to be attended by the ASTI also, according to TUI spokesman Mr Gerry Fitzpatrick. But, he said, the Union had decided during its recent convention in Galway not to participate in the talks until its pay demands had been addressed.
The ASTI was unavailable for comment today.