Schools could be shut for the forseeable future

Hundreds of Westmeath secondary students will be out of school for the foreseeable future unless the government and ASTI can come to agreement, a local union official has said.

Five local secondary schools (Colaiste Mhuire, St Finian's College and Loreto Collge in Mullingar, Mercy Secondary School Kilbeggan and St Joseph's Rochfortbridge) remained closed this morning as the pay dispute between ASTI and the government entered a new phase.

ASTI members turned up for work today, but as they are refusing to carry out supervisory and substitution duties schools remained shut over health and safety concerns.

While members of the other teaching unions are paid for supervising classes, the Department of Education has refused to pay ASTI members until the union signs up to the Landsdowne Road Agreement. During September and October ASTI members had been carrying out these duties without payment.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner this morning, local ASTI official Brian Burke admitted that schools will remain closed indefinitely unless an agreement is reached.

However, he is confident an agreement will be reached in the coming days.

“As long as contact is being maintained [between ASTI and the department] as it is at the minute, I'd still be reasonably hopeful that it will be resolved.”