ASTI describes talks with Department so far as childish

The union representing secondary school teachers has described talks with the Education Department so far as childish.

Both sides are set to resume talks this week following an invitation from Minister Richard Bruton.

The ASTI plans to strike on seven dates over the next three months - which will see hundreds of schools closing.

Teachers will also withdraw from supervision and substitution duties from the 7th of November.

Minister Bruton says school closures on these days are also inevitable: "Those children will have to be supervised by someone else.

"What we thought is that the principal would be given a derogation so that they can cooperate with the recruitment of people to do that supervision so that the school could stay open and classes could be taught, but unfortunately they haven’t allowed the principal to cooperate with that so it now will be extremely difficult to keep the schools open."